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76th MXW shooting for the ‘star’

  • Published
  • By Mike W. Ray
  • Tinker Public Affairs
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  The 76th Software Maintenance Group and the 76th Maintenance Wing Staff haven't eradicated employee colds, headaches, sprained ankles and job-related injuries entirely -- but the occurrence and intensity of these maladies have been reduced dramatically.

The combined group includes 653 employees of the Software Maintenance Group working in 11 buildings scattered across Tinker AFB, and approximately 275 employees in the 76th MXW Staff Offices. Those 900+ employees recorded only two minor injuries or illnesses from February through October -- and no injuries or illnesses resulting in days away from work throughout that entire nine-month period.

During that same time, the combined group steadily reduced its Total Case Incident Rate (TCIR, a measurement of the frequency and severity of injuries and illnesses) to 0.59 -- which was 86 percent lower than the industry standard of 4.3. The group surpassed its fiscal year 2011 goal of 0.97, and is already near the goal for fiscal 2012 of 0.54.

The combined group's Days Away/Restricted or Transfer rate, a mathematical calculation that describes the number of recordable injuries and illnesses per 100 full-time employees, has been held at 0.00 for seven consecutive months. In comparison, the industry standard is 2.7 and the group's fiscal 2011 goal was 0.86.

In 2006, the wing logged 13,000 lost-work days from sickness and job-related mishaps. By the end of fiscal year 2011, the tally of lost-work days had shrunk by almost 81 percent, to 2,500, said Ryan Smith, 76th Maintenance Wing Safety Chief.

Significant, demonstrable benefits -- increased productivity because fewer employees are absent due to illness or injury, and substantial savings from lower workers' compensation premiums - accrue to the unit and to Tinker Air Force Base from this emphasis on safety, said Norman Wagner, employee representative of the 76th SMXG Voluntary Protection Program.

These achievements will be weighed by a five-member team of Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspectors when they arrive at Tinker next month to conduct a weeklong audit (Dec. 5-9) of the 76th SMXG and the 76th Wing Staff application for VPP Star status.

With its Star rating, OSHA recognizes employers and employees who "demonstrate exemplary achievement in the prevention and control of occupational safety and health hazards, and the development, implementation and continuous improvement of their safety and health management system."

Star is "the highest level that can be achieved in safe workplace practices," said Gloria McCue, 555 SMXS electronics engineer and one of the 14 members of the 76th Maintenance Wing VPP team. For example, Mr. Wagner said, to achieve Star status an applicant must maintain DART and TCIR rates below industry standards for three consecutive years.

Paul Victorian, 76th SMXG VPP management representative, said the Star rating is recognition by OSHA that an applicant "has established safety programs and has sustained those programs."

According to Wade Wolfe, chief of the 76 MXW Business Office, the Star rating is "proof that you have gone a step above what's required."

"There's a certain amount of prestige" associated with VPP Star status, said Kathy McCall, also of the 76th MXW Business Office.

Another benefit of the Star ranking is that it would make Tinker AFB "more viable," said Chris Stulken of the American Federation of Government Employees union 916. An air base that enacts myriad measures designed to make it an overall safe place to work should have an edge when political and military leaders consider program consolidation or personnel cutbacks, he contended.

The members of the 76th MXW team are "really excited" about the audit, Ms. McCue said. "It's been a long wait." The Wing implemented VPP in 2006 and submitted its application for Star rating last August.

If -- when -- the 76th Software Maintenance Group and 76th Wing Staff attain their Star ranking, "We will lead the way" and show the Wing's six other sites "how to do it," said Terry Harris of the 76 MXW Business Office.

(The other sites of the 76 MXW are the Aircraft Maintenance Group, the Propulsion Maintenance Group, the Commodities Maintenance Group, and the Maintenance Support Group.)

The 76th MXW was guided in its quest for VPP Star recognition by the Valero refinery in Ardmore, which attained Star status. "We here at Tinker reached out to Valero because they helped Altus AFB, too," with its VPP, Mr. Stulken explained.

The VPP is "a bottom-up, employee-driven program," Mr. Smith said. "The key to the 76th MXW VPP is that management makes sure the resources are available to the employees. It's truly a partnership."

"Everybody has taken ownership of this program," said Wayde Loflin, chief of 76 MXW Financial Management. "Everybody looks out for everybody else."

An example was a near-miss reported by Mr. Stulken. When a motorcyclist nearly drove into the drainage ditch that parallels Industrial Road, Mr. Stulken submitted an AF Form 457 to base safety; it was logged into the system and discussed during the quarterly base traffic commission meeting. As a direct result, a grate or some other protective device will be installed at the site.

VPP has been thoroughly instilled in the everyday culture of the 76th SMXG and the MXW Staff, said Brenda Edmonds of the 76th MXW Quality Assurance office.

Previously, employees who saw a potential safety hazard "probably just walked on by and ignored it," Mr. Harris said. "Now, though, the first thing we'd do is try to correct it. If we can't we report it and quarantine it until it can be corrected."

"Now we deal with safety issues before something happens, not afterward," Mr. Smith said.

Instead of just a few safety officers, every employee is a safety watchdog, thanks to VPP. And to enhance its Voluntary Protection Program the 76th MXW has an online hazard reporting system plus an employee hotline for reporting potential hazards, as well as the customary, periodic safety programs.

In addition, the 76 MXW's VPP site observes a "safety month" that features working lunches for safety classes and health screenings provided by the Civilian Health Promotion Services office. "If people are safe and healthy, they'll be at work," Ms. McCall asserted.

"I think the Star rating will be a catalyst for the rest of the base," said Dr. Doug Blake, director of the 76th SMXG. Commodities and Maintenance Support intend to apply for Star status next year, he indicated. The ultimate goal is for all of Tinker Air Force Base to be Star-rated.