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VPP looks out for safety hazards

  • Published
  • By Howdy Stout
  • Tinker Public Affairs
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla., --  Preventing accidents before they happen is the goal of the Voluntary Protection Program's Hazard Prevention Team. It is one of several teams operating as part of the 72nd ABW VPP program at Tinker Air Force Base.

And anyone can be a team member.

"If anyone is interested in joining the 72nd ABW VPP team, they are more than welcome," explained Brenda Williams, co-chair of the Hazard Prevention Team.

The five-member team regularly surveys areas in the 72nd ABW, searching for potential safety hazards in addition to responding to safety hazard complaints from those on the base. If a hazard is reported, team members respond.

"We'll go out and do something about it," said Ms. Williams. "We're there."

VPP members in the 72nd ABW have direct access to unit commanders, meeting with them monthly to address safety issues and concerns. Ms. Williams said the team alerts commanders to existing or potential workplace safety problems.

Workplace safety is a concern of the Air Force.

The Department of Defense instituted the Occupational Health and Safety Agency's VPP program in 2006 in an effort to curb job-related injuries in the workplace. Occupational injuries in 2005 cost the department an estimated $10 to 20 billion annually while the Air Force lost an estimated 36,000 civilian man days of production.

Despite the importance of the program, Ms. Williams said many workers are still unsure of what a safety hazard might be and what to do if they spot one. Hazards could be anything from a liquid spill to a loose carpet.

Anyone spotting a potential hazard -- even if they are visiting another building -- should take the initiative, Ms. Williams said. That could mean either cleaning up a spill or alerting someone in the building to a potential tripping hazard, she explained.

"It's just taking care of the little things, the near misses," she said.

For larger safety issues, workers can report them directly on the VPP hotline located on the Tinker Web page, the Safety Hotline 739-SAFE, the Hazard Reporting tool located on the Tinker Web page or by submitting form AF Form 457. Form AF Form 457 is for problems that cannot be corrected at the lowest level first. It can also be submitted anonymously.

A benefit of a successful VPP program is the awarding of a Status Star from OSHA. Star status would allow workers the authority to self-inspect the workplace in addition to limiting OSHA inspections to once every five years. Currently, OSHA may inspect the workplace at anytime.

Ms. Williams said reporting potential workplace hazards keeps workers and their colleagues safe.

"It's taking care of each other, taking care of ourselves, we need to take the initiative," she said.