FSS recognized with VPP star award Published May 16, 2008 By Holly Birchfield 78 ABW/PA Robins Air Force Base, Ga. -- First Support Services, the service provider in the 78th Logistics Readiness Squadron's Vehicle Maintenance and Operations Section was recently recognized for its focus on keeping employees safe. Theresa Harrison, regional director for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, presented the Voluntary Protection Program Star award to the work area's leadership in the Vehicle Maintenance Area May 6. Eddie Poole, project manager for First Support Services in the 78th LRS, said the award signifies that the vehicle maintenance and operations area is implementing the best safety practices. According to the OSHA Web site, less than 1 percent of companies have achieved Star Status. Mr. Poole said less than 5 percent of companies that put in for the award get it on the first try, but his work area beat the odds. The project manager said a lot of work went into making that happen. "There is a lot of paperwork and procedures dealing with your accidents and accident ratios involved in the process for getting the OSHA award," he said. "It also deals with the work area and the facilities to make sure that everything is inspected and everything is safe for the employees." Mr. Poole said one of the things that made their program so successful is having a partnership with employees that gets them involved in the safety program. "Employees learn what their rights and responsibilities are so that everyone is looking out for each other instead of just having employees work on their own," he said. "Employees are now looking out for their coworkers as well." Dee Selph, an environmental and safety manager in the 78th LRS, said the program helped the organization cut its accident rate by 52 percent over the last two years. "I think the best part is when the employees come to you and they realize how important the safety program is to them," she said. "They're very involved in it. They're all part of it. They give their input and it makes them more aware and safer." Mr. Poole said the program provides employees valuable safety information they can use at home as well. A lot goes into ensuring safety, Mr. Poole said. "All of it involves the use of personal protective equipment, such as steel-toed shoes, safety glasses, practices of simple things, such as not wearing jewelry in the work area," he said. "These are things that a lot of people don't normally think of, but they can cause accidents." Pam McCullough, an administrative manager in the 78th LRS who maintains the work area's on-the-job accident reportss, said VPP has helped the organization stay virtually accident free. "It has been very good to see how the accidents have gone down to only one accident in 2006 and only minor accidents since then," she said. "It's really nice to see that improvement and that you're not having to follow up with people who are hurt."