News

573rd CMMXS Plating Shop strikes gold!

  • Published
  • By Wayne Crenshaw
  • 78 ABW/PA
ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  Richard Francis is the first to admit that the Plating Shop in the 573rd Commodities Maintenance Squadron is one of the most dangerous work places at Robins, based on the potential of what could happen.

But the story he really wants to tell is how the shop has worked hard to minimize those dangers as much as possible. That hard work was recognized Jan. 23 when the shop became the first industrial area on base to win Gold Site safety status in the Commanders' Safe Site Challenge. It had previously won bronze and silver.

"We were the original safe site on base," said Mr. Francis, who is team leader for the shop's Voluntary Protection Program. "The reason they picked us was our high potential (for hazards)."

The Safe Site Challenge is a Robins program aimed at leading the base to Star recognition by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Star status is the highest recognition in OSHA's Voluntary Protection Program, which is designed to encourage workplaces to improve safety.

Gold status in the Commander's Safe Site Challenge means the workplace meets the standards of OSHA Star status. To win gold status, the Plating Shop had an inspection from a team that included personnel from private industry that has Star status.

Murry Jackson, a supervisor in the shop, credited the Gold Site status to the hard work of all of the shop's employees, and their buy-in to the principles of VPP.

"I'm proud of what they've done," he said. "They worked real hard for it. There's been a culture change with everybody."

The Plating Shop does metal finishing and corrosion control on aircraft parts. The shop uses a lot of hazardous chemicals, and much of the safety emphasis involves finding ways to minimize contact with those chemicals.

One of the things the shop has done, Mr. Francis noted, was to move the prep area for parts to the front of the shop, which is climate controlled and away from the vats of hazardous chemicals in the rear area, which the prep work had been done. It also gets very hot in the rear area during the summer, he said.

"We want them to spend as little time as possible back there," he said.

The shop gives out VPP safety tips daily, and keeps an archive of those tips available. The shop has also put up a VPP board, where it posts a substantial amount of information about safety. It also has enlarged versions of the shop's safety pledge, signed by every employee. It has another enlarged safety pledge signed by management.

"Without the support of management, this wouldn't be possible," Mr. Francis said.

The 573rd CMMXS is a part of the 402nd Commodities Maintenance Group.