News

Gold the standard in LRS flight

  • Published
  • By Jenny Gordon
  • Robins Public Affairs
As safe sites at Robins begin or sustain their journeys through the Voluntary Protection Program, there's little argument it takes a can-do attitude to make workplaces safe for everyone.

Take for example the 78th Logistics Readiness Squadron Deployment and Distribution Flight which achieved Gold recognition in 2013. Although they achieved the status, they're quick to say there's always more to be done, and it's not time to rest on their laurels.

That sentiment holds especially true considering they work in a large warehouse near the flight line. The potential for mishaps can be found everywhere, but personnel actively make safety a priority in not only their dedicated work areas, but for visitors who routinely walk through the building. 

"The flight really came together to resolve issues and took care of their environment in the places they worked," said 1st Lt. Colton Reid, 78th LRS D-Flight commander. They've not had a safety incident in more than three years. 

When you discuss the VPP culture in a unit, it's of note to mention how the flight's 40 military and civilian personnel engage with each other, routinely self-identifying areas for improvement.

"We have a good mix of folks who take it upon themselves to do different VPP projects. Everyone participates and interacts," said Master Sgt. Terrence Oglesby, flight superintendent. "It's like a family ... I know you've probably heard this before, but the biggest thing is we try to take care of each other and have a good time.

"It's really the atmosphere," he added. "Without communication and instilling a culture of safety and camaraderie, it would be tough." 

Once you walk through the administrative areas of Bldg. 127 toward the warehouse, you can't go very far without noticing painted areas around doorways, steps and walkways - potential areas where someone could bump into something, trip or fall.             

Inside the building, out-processing procedures occur for Robins members who get ready to deploy, as well as in-processing for those who return. Their bags end up getting placed inside large baggage bins, with sides which reach about 8-feet high. 

In the past, someone would have physically pulled their legs over the sides of the bin to get luggage - a potential hazard when heavy bags are being passed to someone on the ground.

To remedy the issue, members built and modified several bins. They took one side of a bin, and created a drop-down contraption where someone could just pull it down without having to climb up and over any areas. 

Also, the flight knows how important it is to share its successes with other squadrons, sharing information and advice, pointing out areas they may need to look at, no matter how small. 

Sean Johnson, Installation VPP manager, said successful VPP implementation and sustainment is established in work sites focused not solely on the VPP Banner status (Bronze, Silver, Gold), but what can be referred to as 'VPP ownership.' 

"Each VPP safe site has unique characteristics that shape its challenges in safety, production and VPP," Johnson said. "Implementing VPP principles in ways that are compatible with safety and production goals promotes leadership and employee buy in, which in turn generates outstanding results," he said.