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VPP priority on safety

  • Published
  • By Brandice J. Armstrong
  • Tinker Public Affairs
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Several Voluntary Protection Program representatives from base organizations recently attended a national conference in Orlando, Fla. Upon return, they said they gained a new appreciation for VPP and more importantly, its principles.

Local VPP conference participants said they're making it their mission to stress the value of the program. It's a message that also agrees with Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center and American Federation of Government Employees Local 916 leadership.

"We are committed to improving the safety of our workplace," said Maj. Gen. David Gillett, OC-ALC commander. "The VPP Executive Council has agreed to make safety one of the center's FY11 breakthrough performance areas. We want all VPP sites to achieve industry standards of performance by the end of FY11.

"To achieve that level of performance, all employees will need to contribute," the general said. "I challenge everyone to be mindful of our surroundings and highlight safety issues so that we can take the necessary steps to significantly reduce injuries at Tinker AFB."

More than twenty VPP base representatives attended the Voluntary Protection Programs Participants' Association conference Aug. 22-26.

"We're committed here, at this base, to keep the principles alive," said James Schmidt, AFGE Local 916 president and a conference attendee. "Once the principles are imbedded, it won't matter the name of the program because it will be imbedded in the employees and they're going to live it day to day."

Mr. Schmidt emphasized the importance of VPP by citing the individual cost to someone injured in an at-work accident. The individual, while compensated, will not make the same kind of money that he'd make if he was still working.

"That's significant. It usually devastates families," Mr. Schmidt said.

By becoming stewards of VPP, employees can help avoid debilitating accidents. Since the program was introduced in 2006, the total case accident rate and days away/restricted/transferred have been reduced.

"The Voluntary Protection Program has provided us a robust and invaluable framework to focus the attention and efforts of employees, union and management on safety and health in the workplace," said John Over, OC-ALC executive director. "We have experienced a (more than) 10 percent reduction in injuries for two consecutive years and are committed to continuing the OC-ALC Voluntary Protection Program."

The Voluntary Protection Program is a mission many at Tinker feel strongly about.

"It's a great program and I think that we are capable of giving employees a safe work environment," said Desiree Ishihara of the Combined Wings and Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center staff offices VPP, who attended the national conference. "The more people that are involved, the more eyes can be looking out for things that need to be fixed. It's safer for everyone and cheaper in the long run."

Joe Kessinger, of the 76th Commodities Maintenance Group VPP and conference attendee, agreed.

"Where we're doing it, it is working. Employees feel empowerment and ownership," he said. "They said 'something was broke' and someone came and fixed it. The program makes the work environment better for everybody."