VPP In Action: Be vigilant, report hazards to mitigate accidents

  • Published
  • By Rhonda Siciliano
  • 66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
HANSCOM AFB, Mass. --  The Hazard Report button found on the Centernet is a valuable tool for personnel to immediately report safety hazards across the base.

On March 18, William Cashman of the Electronic Systems Center Capabilities Integration Office noticed a tripping hazard, a protruding piece of rebar along the sidewalk between buildings 1530 and 1521 on Barksdale Street. The rebar was protruding up where the edge of the sidewalk met with the curb.

Mr. Cashman took immediate action to mark the spot with an orange piece of plastic to warn other pedestrians of the hazard; he then utilized the hazard report button on the Centernet to notify the Safety Office of the problem.

Immediately, the Safety Office worked with 66th Air Base Wing leadership and the Civil Engineering office to get the problem corrected. Within hours of the hazard being reported the problem had been fixed.

"This was a positive experience in every way," Mr. Cashman said. "The Hazard Report button is very visible on the CenterNet home page. Even though this was a routine report, it is clear that safety is a top priority at Hanscom based on the level of attention and promptness of action. If there is a potential for someone getting hurt, our leadership wants that risk eliminated."

Mr. Cashman added that the VPP program has received increasing emphasis in his work area and served as a reminder that since he had noticed the hazard he needed to report it.

"This type of proactive approach to safety as demonstrated by Mr. Cashman is exactly what our Voluntary Protection Program is all about," said Col. Tom Schluckebier, 66th Air Base Wing commander. "The online reporting tool is a simple way for people to report hazards and get them addressed. Our VPP culture has helped to raise awareness of the importance of reporting hazards and taking the necessary steps to ensure safety for everyone, it's a responsibility we all share."

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; 350th ELSW, 1Lt. Scott Ostrow, (781) 266-0529; 551st ELSW, MSgt. Shawn Perrine, (781) 377-1012; 554th ELSW, Galen Williams, (781) 377-4226 and 653rd ELSW, Bill Bassett, (781) 377-0299.