Hanscom VPP gets green light for certification inspection

  • Published
  • By Rhonda Siciliano
  • 66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has accepted Hanscom's application to become a Voluntary Protection Program certified site, the next step in the process will be an inspection visit that is scheduled to take place the week of May 18. 

"This is a critical step," said Col. Lee Pritchard, 66th Air Base Wing Safety Office director. "Now it's up to each of us to prove to the OSHA team that we have an active, viable VPP culture, program in place." 

The Voluntary Protection Program emphasizes worker safety and health and the identification and elimination of hazards by involving employees and managers in the process. 

This idea of getting the community involved in everyday safety practices is something that starts with training and educating the public, Colonel Pritchard said. "Getting people engaged and taking personal responsibility for their own safety is the key. The ultimate goal is to ensure employees return home the same way they came to work, and that the processes and equipment that we have in place are safe."

According to the OSHA Web site, www.osha.gov/dcsp/vpp/index.html, the process of VPP starts with performance-based criteria that are initially established for a managed safety and health system.

After the criteria are established, VPP then invites sites to apply for the program and will assess applicants against the criteria. Part of this system includes a review of the site's application along with an onsite evaluation by OSHA safety and health experts. Depending on the outcome of Hanscom's evaluation in May, it could qualify for one of three programs: Star, Merit and Star Demonstration.

Now that Hanscom's VPP application has been approved, OSHA will evaluate the base's safety processes, interview employees and supervisors on base and then determine what level the base qualifies for.

"A Star site recognizes that we have met all the requirements, and a Merit site stipulates that we are there but we still have a little more work to be done," the Colonel said. 

"Based on the VPP standards, Hanscom is already meeting these goals and doing what is required. However, it is the mindset of the Voluntary Protection Program that's going to be the difference between achieving certification or not." 

The VPP way of thinking requires individuals to be engaged in daily safety practices, Colonel Pritchard said.

How to participate in workplace safety:
In addition to education, participation in safety practices is another aspect that OSHA will look at in their evaluation of Hanscom.

"Participation and employee involvement can be something as simple as attending safety meetings, putting on a safety training session or class, giving safety briefings or identifying a hazard in the workplace," Colonel Pritchard said. "If something unsafe is recognized, individuals are encouraged to use their chain of command first to report a problem. This can be done by letting a supervisor or coworker know about a hazard, or even by identifying a different approach to doing something to prevent a hazard," he said.

If a problem is identified that requires the attention of the 66th Air Base Wing Safety Office, individuals can fill out a Hazard Report online through the CenterNet," Colonel Pritchard said. 

In the report, which can be anonymous, individuals can describe the hazard and location, along with any recommendations for the problem. Once submitted, the Safety Office is notified of the problem. If the hazard happens to be in a facility, the building manager for that site is also notified, he said.

Is VPP different from other safety programs?
"VPP isn't different; it's integrated into our current [safety] practices like Operational Risk Management, Air Force Special Operations for the 21st Century, Wingman BOLDFACE and our current Air Force Occupational Safety and Health standards. If we are doing all those things, we are doing VPP. The primary thrust of VPP is involvement from employees and managers," Colonel Pritchard said.

Proof of the success of this program, the Colonel said, is a reduction in accident rates for Hanscom, along with personnel who are both aware of VPP principles and practice them daily. 

"Attitude is everything when it comes to demonstrating to OSHA that we are deserving of VPP certification," Colonel Pritchard said. "If we go into this certification inspection with the right attitudes then we will succeed. We might not be perfect but if we can demonstrate to the OSHA team that we take VPP seriously and are committed to making any necessary changes to keep our workplaces and employees safe then we will be successful in May." 

For more information contact your Wing's VPP team leader or the 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.