New Web page provides preparation for upcoming OSHA inspection

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. C. Michaela Judge
  • 66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
HANSCOM AFB, Mass. --  This past summer, Hanscom focused much of its energy on training and equipping personnel for an Operational Readiness Inspection -- in the same way, leadership and supervisors at all levels are currently drawing from resources to prepare base employees for an upcoming inspection that will test Hanscom's current safety and health program. And similar to the Operational Readiness Inspection, the effort doesn't stop when the inspectors leave - readiness, safety, health and wellness are all continuous processes.

Now, with the help of Hanscom's public Web site, personnel at all levels have a new avenue available to further educate themselves on the Voluntary Protection Program, current safety risks here and what to expect when the Occupational Safety and Health Administration evaluates the base.

The new resource, Hanscom's VPP Toolbox, is a link on the base's public site that provides the community with a variety of information on VPP and safety. Personnel can access The VPP Toolbox at www.hanscom.af.mil/vppinaction/index.asp or by visiting www.hanscom.af.mil and clicking on "The VPP Toolbox" link.

"The VPP Toolbox is a 'one-stop-shop' for both supervisors and employees to better inform themselves on the latest safety and health information here. Being educated on VPP processes is just one step in preparing for OSHA's upcoming inspection here, but more importantly it provides personnel with the knowledge they need to ensure a safe work environment," said 66 ABW Commander Col. Tom Schluckebier.

The Web page is broken down into three primary areas: An introduction to VPP, VPP in Action and the VPP Toolbox.

The introduction highlights the purpose of VPP, its importance to Hanscom and some of the benefits of the program that are already in place.

Under the VPP in Action tab, visitors will find current Hanscom articles that address real base issues and how they were resolved through VPP processes. This tab will be updated as safety issues are resolved on base, in order to keep the community informed.

Individuals who know of a safety issue that has recently been addressed, and would like to share the steps they took to resolve the problem, should e-mail the 66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs Office at hanscom.hansconian@hanscom.af.mil to report a possible "VPP in Action" article.

Lastly, the VPP Toolbox tab is an archive of VPP and Safety articles that have been written in the past. Topics include the VPP Certification process, Hazard Reporting, Elements of VPP and numerous articles and fact sheets that provide safety tips for both the workplace and home.

"For the Voluntary Protection Program to be a success, it is vital that both leadership and employees at all levels get involved in the day to day safety and health practices of the workplace. Having this online resource gives supervisors yet another tool to use with their employees - it not only provides the base community with the latest safety information and concerns, but it keeps everyone informed of the VPP process and where we are going in the future," said Mike Trudeau, 66th Air Base Wing Safety Office.

The 66 ABW PA Office will continue to update the Web page with articles, handouts, graphics, safety links and more to provide the community with the necessary information to educate the base populace on the importance of VPP.