News

Four work sites excel with VPP

  • Published
  • By Tommie Horton
  • Robins Public Affairs
ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  Four work sites have joined the growing number of safe sites at Robins achieving Gold recognition through the Occupational Safety and Health Administration sponsored Voluntary Protection Program.

Gold banners were presented Feb. 7 to the 78th Force Support Squadron Heritage Club/Pizza Depot; 78th Force Support Squadron Maintenance Training Section; 560th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron C-130 Center Wing Box Shop; and the Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex Quality Office.

Sites are able to achieve Gold by partnering with management and the union to implement effective safety and health management systems that will help prevent workplace injuries and illnesses. The Commander's Safe Site Challenge is utilized to help break down the necessary requirements to achieve Gold.

Two examples of the many accomplishments that contributed to the recent recognitions include the C-130 Center Wing Box Shop's implementation of a defined method of retracting a sick or injured employee from inside the wing of an aircraft. The 78th Air Base Wing Fire Department assisted the shop in its preparedness.

Another example is the Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex Quality Offices' expansion of its employee safety awareness beyond administrative areas into industrial areas where they routinely perform inspections.

"One of the greatest things about the program is that we're a team," said Sean Johnson, Installation VPP program manager. "Together through management, union and employee involvement, along with safety training, we can make a difference and make our workplace a lot safer," he said.

There are currently 306 sites participating. Of those, 58 percent have achieved Gold; 32 percent, Silver; 6 percent, Bronze; and 4 percent Green. Two sites have achieved the prestigious OSHA Star Site. They are the 402nd Software Maintenance Group and the 402nd Material Support Group.

"Typically an OSHA Star Site will find that their injury rates are 52 percent below a like site in the industry," said Johnson.