Team effort ensures workforce safety Published March 6, 2015 By Jenny Gordon Robins Public Affairs ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- When it comes to the diverse backshops located in the 402nd Commodities Maintenance Group's facilities, it's also an important element to maintaining safety for the workforce. During the morning of Feb. 26, water was disrupted to Bldg. 140, and Advanced Metal Finishing Facility operations in Bldgs. 142 and 20128. It was found that an automatic shutoff valve in the newest building, Bldg. 20128, had sensed too much water flow, and caused water to shut off to all three buildings for several hours. Management was immediately notified, and work began to identify operations that required the use of running water to make sure they were secured, according to Mark Johnson, 402nd CMXG's deputy director. While water can be accommodated in other ways when it comes to personal consumption, in this case it became a constraint for the safety of about 300 employees. In cases of emergency, there must be a water source available in order to activate the numerous eye wash stations which are conveniently located throughout employee work areas in the buildings. Temporary portable wash bottles, which served as eye wash stations, were brought in from the 562nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron during the affected time period so these could be readily accessible for employees as needed. "It was just an amazing team effort," said Johnson. "It went off flawlessly, showing the Team Robins spirit because everyone pulled together. It was almost a non-event it was so smooth." Vincent Blasingame, the 402nd CMXG's group representative for American Federation of Government Employees Local 987, said management's response was quick, especially when it came to making sure employee safety came first. "Management really stepped up," he said. "They jumped on the issue, and made sure employees were safe and hydration was there. They took the initiative to handle the situation."