EOHCAMP is coming to a shop near you

Published Sept. 18, 2012
Bioenvironmental Engineering Flight

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- The Air Force Environmental and Occupational Health programs exist to support the war fighter and protect the environment, workforce and community. To ensure compliance with these programs Tinker AFB will be conducting a Tier II (formerly known as an internal) Environmental and Occupational Health Compliance Assessment and Management Program assessment during the week of Oct. 1-5 Tinker EOHCAMP assessors will be evaluating workplaces throughout the entire base.

The EOHCAMP takes a look at how well the base is complying with all federal, state and Air Force environmental and occupational health laws, regulations and directives. Although primarily led by the Environmental Management and Bioenvironmental Engineering offices, the Tinker AFB EOHCAMP is very much a team effort for the whole base.

The EOHCAMP complements the Voluntary Protection Program, or VPP, which encourages leadership and employees to work together for the safety and health of the work force, and the Environmental Management System, or EMS, which is committed to protecting the environment while sustaining the Air Force mission.

Once the assessment is complete, the EOHCAMP Team will prepare a report that details both positive and negative findings. Negative findings are divided into four categories:

· A Significant Finding is an immediate threat to human health or the environment.
· A Compliance Finding is noncompliance with a federal, state or local law or regulation.
· A Major Management System Finding indicates multiple instances of nonconformance to DOD/AF or installation instruction, policy or other requirement.
· A Minor Management System Finding is a single instance of nonconformance to DOD/AF or installation instruction, policy or other requirement.

Positive findings highlight areas that are exceeding standards and could potentially be considered a best practice.

During the assessment, assessors will conduct record reviews, interviews, reviews of Tier 1 (routine self assessments) assessment reports, facility inspections, and site surveys to evaluate compliance with established standards and policies.

Some of the most common environmental management violations assessors will look for include air management (inadequate paint booth logs for inspections of spray gun cleaners, painting operations, pressure readings, paint use, and solvent use are common findings.

Findings for open solvent containers or containers with solvent-contaminated rags are also common.), hazardous materials (common findings in this protocol include inadequate labeling of material containers, purchase of hazardous materials without authorizations, and inaccurate material inventories.), hazardous waste (an open container is one of the most common discoveries during a hazardous waste inspection. Improper management of waste fluorescent lamps is another finding that is regularly repeated.

Other findings in this protocol include, inadequate inspection records (Form 487), improper container labeling, and improper disposal of regulated waste.), solid waste (inspectors often find open dumpsters which many people don't realize are a violation of law.

Another discovery that often occurs is unpermitted dumping of solid wastes.), and wastewater (the most frequent wastewater finding is for improper dumping into a storm drain.)

The occupational health part of the assessment will evaluate compliance with OH programs such as hazard noise, hazardous chemical exposure, ionizing and non-ionizing radiation, and hazard communication to name a few. Controlling hazards through the use of engineering controls (mechanical ventilation, shroud sanders, etc.), personal protective equipment (respirators, ear plugs, rubber gloves, coveralls) and work practice will also be evaluated.

In addition, compliance with occupational health requirements for regulated areas and hazard communication training will be focus areas.

Prepare for this assessment by reviewing records, operating instructions and doing a self inspection of your workplace. Be upfront and honest with the assessor by identifying potential problems as well as identifying the areas where you are going above and beyond. Show our commanders and our community that the Tinker workforce is dedicated to maintaining a healthy, clean and compliant environment.

The occupational health checklists for self inspection are located on the Bioenvironmental Engineering website, which available on the Tinker homepage.

For more information concerning the environmental management portion of the assessment, contact your environmental coordinator or Tim Taylor, 72nd ABW/CEANO, at 739-7062 or tim.taylor@tinker.af.mil.

Questions regarding the occupational health portion should be directed to Lt. Katelyn Smith, 72nd AMDS/SGPB, at 734-7844 or katelyn.smith@tinker.af.mil.