330th ASW unit first to earn Silver Star status Published April 18, 2008 By Amanda Creel 78 ABW/PA Robins Air Force Base, GA -- A safe working environment is the responsibility of everyone, which is why members of the Continued Process Improvement and Transformation team took the initiative to become a safe site. "It lets people know you care about your job and the people you work with," said Dick Burch, Voluntary Protection Program manager. The CPI&T office, which is part of the 330th Aircraft Sustainment Wing, was named a safe site and the first at Robins to earn the Silver Star level. Members of the team enjoy sharing their office space with other workers throughout the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center interested in becoming a safe site. Though the CPI&T team may have been the first to achieve recognition as a Silver Star site, more than 60 areas throughout the Center are working to achieve the status. "We used ourselves as the benchmark," said Tony Delgiorno, senior change manager. The change is notable, especially when examining the offices display of photos of the work area before the CPI&T team moved in. The area was described by workers as a "rat hole" filled with mold and mildew and exposed electrical wires and outlets. Once you get over many of the cosmetic differences in the office space, the emphasis on safety by the team members becomes evident. Some of the many changes you see around the CPI&T office space include flashlights posted on the walls, extra lighting in dim areas, handrails outside of the elevated bathrooms and securing excess cords to prevent trips or falls. "We did a host of things here to make the environment safe," Mr. Delgiorno said. Not only did the office add materials to help ensure safety more than half of the team were certified to perform CPR and use an Automated External Defibrillator, which is also installed in the work area. "It's comforting to know if anything ever happened to us we could get a quick response that could save our lives," said Shelia Shaw, CPI&T team member, who is certified for CPR and the AED. Another aspect of the safe site is visual management. Anyone who enters the work space can tell who is present and who is out just by glancing at flags extended from each worker's cubicle. The team encourages other work areas to become a safe site. The team members agreed it is easier than one might think especially if the work area has already implemented the 6-S's, which are sort, straighten, shine, standardize, sustain and safety. Mr. Delgiorno said once work areas have developed the discipline required to follow the 6-S's, it is already well on its way to becoming a safe site. Members of the team said safety is all about individuals taking the initiative to keep themselves and those around them safe. "It's about being aware of safety hazards and taking the initiative to fix it," Mr. Delgiorno said. The team members said it could be as simple as posting a sign near stairs because the area isn't well lit or holding on to a handrail when climbing stairs. "Anybody can save a life or keep someone safer," Mr. Burch said.