Countdown to Hanscom VPP inspection Published May 4, 2009 By Rhonda Siciliano 66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. -- In just 10 days members of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration will arrive at Hanscom to conduct an inspection of the installation's Voluntary Protection Program and make a determination whether or not the base has met the requirements to earn certification as a VPP site. If successful, Hanscom will become the first Air Force installation to earn VPP certification. "The OSHA team will be looking to verify that the safety and health management system detailed in our VPP application is fully operational and effectively addresses hazards at Hanscom," said Col. Lee Pritchard, 66th Air Base Wing Safety Office director. "We have great programs in place throughout the installation and we're looking forward to OSHA's visit so that they can see our dedication to the VPP principles and practices in ensuring everyone's safety." From May 18 to 21, the OSHA review team will meet with employees and supervisors, visit worksites and review documentation to get an overall picture of Hanscom's safety and health management program. The team will provide daily status updates on their findings and at the conclusion of their visit will make a recommendation as to whether or not Hanscom's program meets the requirements of certification. In determining its recommendation, the team will consider the following: Safety and health conditions, including hazards found, plans to correct those hazards, and needed system improvements, if any; information gathered from informal and formal interviews; successful implementation of VPP's elements of an effective safety and health management system. "The team will pay particular attention to consistency--how close the match is--between the safety and health management system described in our application, the documentation we provide onsite, workplace conditions, and our employees' experience with the safety and health management system," Colonel Pritchard said. Upon conclusion of the certification visit, the OSHA team will determine if Hanscom has met the requirements for one of the following VPP designations: Star, Merit, or Demonstration. For questions or more information on the VPP program and upcoming inspection contact your Wing's VPP team leader or Mike Trudeau, 66th Air Base Wing Safety Office, at (781) 377-5136. The leaders are: 66 ABW, Italia Minchello (781) 377-6560; 350 ELSW, 1st. Lt. Scott Ostrow, (781) 266-0529; 551 ELSW, SMSgt. Glenn Taijeron, (781) 377-1012; 554 ELSW, Galen Williams, (781) 377-4226 and 653 ELSW, Bill Bassett, (781) 377-0299 or Mary Kay Francis (781) 377-0794. Preparing for the VPP inspection To assist in the final preparations for the site visit base personnel are asked to do the following: - Ensure all safety and health training is up to date - Perform additional spot inspections of work areas, paying careful attention to these most common violations: 1. Surge protectors daisy-chained with other surge protectors or extension cords. 2. Extension cords used in lieu of permanent wiring. 3. Storage Rooms--lack of housekeeping, cluttered. 4. Electrical, communications, mechanical rooms, closets used as storage. 5. Coffee pots, microwaves, refrigerators plugged into cubicle outlets, surge protectors or extension cords. These items must be plugged into a wall outlet. 6. Surge protector wires taped to floor or covered with rugs to prevent tripping hazards. Use a rubber dam to protect cords and prevent tripping hazard. 7. Space heaters plugged into cubicle outlets. Space heaters must be plugged into a wall outlet. Space heaters in use that do not have a tip over switch. 8. Flammable storage--items stored improperly. 9. Circuit breaker panels not labeled. 10. Circuit breaker panels--items stored in front of the panel. A 36 inch clear zone must be maintained. 11. Damaged electrical outlet, switch covers. 12. Items stored within 18 inches of light fixtures, sprinkler heads, heat sensors. 13. Step ladders--non-skid pads not installed on all four feet.