Georgia Tech, Robins partnership offers safety, health courses Published Feb. 22, 2013 By Jenny Gordon Robins Public Affairs ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- Through a partnership with the Georgia Tech Research Institute, 18 Robins employees will receive an Industrial Safety and Health Certificate during a graduation ceremony Monday at the Heritage Club ballroom. Courses, taught by Georgia Tech instructors on base, began October 2011, with instruction concluding January 2013. As a result of hosting classes locally instead of in Atlanta, significant savings were achieved to the tune of more than $200,000, according to David Decker with the 78th Air Base Wing Safety Office. Among the courses, which included classroom and hands-on training, were industrial hygiene practices; Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations and procedures; confined space training; electrical safety in the workplace; recordkeeping; machinery and machine guarding standards, and hazardous materials. "One of the reasons we're getting these certificates is that it adds credibility to the installation safety program as a whole," said John Ainsworth, 78th ABW Safety Office. Other advantages of the program include the opportunity to further strengthen safety education, while continuing to improve work processes and assist employees. "It gave me the knowledge base I needed to ensure our workforce is being protected, and that we are in compliance and meeting OSHA requirements," said Robbie Tidwell, 402nd Commodities Maintenance Group aircraft sheet metal mechanic. Tidwell is also an American Federation of Government Employees Local 987 safety representative. He said that by offering the program to employees here the issue of safety and overall labor management issues would be continuously addressed and stressed at all levels from frontline workers to management. "It shows that we as a community are serious about safety, and that we are working together and not against each other to resolve our issues," he said. As a result of the program, new ideas have surfaced which will aid in future development of other programs. For example, the online Hazard Reporting Tool has allowed Team Robins employees an opportunity to submit hazards they encounter in and around their work areas. Once a hazard has been reviewed, the turnaround time for response is 24 hours. Tidwell anticipated that revisions will be made to the program as a result of ideas gained while completing the safety and health certificate. "This was an idea that came about as a result of prior training (with Georgia Tech)," he said. "It has really become the mechanic's voice, but is available to all employees." Tidwell added that he and other program graduates will also be able to teach OSHA courses, becoming general industry outreach trainers, keeping abreast of recent changes to OSHA standards for the most common hazards and violations. As part of the Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex's ongoing Safety Management System efforts, Tidwell and a team of engineers have also performed facility reviews and documented hazards in need of immediate resolution. Eight facilities have been reviewed to date.