Inspectors ready to grade safety, health in Tinker’s workplace, environments

Published Aug. 23, 2010
By ESOH Staff
72nd Air Base Wing

Tinker Air Force Base --       Assessment teams from Air Force Materiel Command headquarters will perform an assessment of Tinker's environmental, safety and occupational health programs Aug. 23-27.
     Are you prepared?
     The external Environmental, Safety and Occupational Health Compliance Assessment and Management Program assessments take a comprehensive look at Tinker's ESOH programs.
     Assessors will review documentation, operations, procedures, and facilities for compliance with federal, state, and Air Force environmental and OSHA regulations. By conducting these self assessments, the Air Force can ensure that it is providing an environmentally compliant and safe workplace and avoid injuries or regulatory fines and penalties.
     The following are tips to help you prepare for the assessment:
     Environmental - Some of the common violations assessors will look for are improper management of waste fluorescent lamps, lack of hazardous materials authorizations, expired hazardous materials, improper management of hazardous waste accumulation sites, open hazardous waste containers, incomplete paint booth logs, discharge of soaps, oils, and dirt into storm drains and open solid waste dumpsters.
     Personnel may also be asked by the assessors if they are aware of the base Environmental Policy Statement and have received Environmental Management System training. Both of these can be found by clicking on the Environmental Management logo located on the right hand side of the Tinker Homepage.
     Safety -- Have Air Force Form 55 and AFMC Forms 315/316 current and readily available. Ensure all safety briefings are being accomplished and documented, including pre-departure briefings for TDY, PCS or leave.
     Know who your unit's motorcycle safety coordinators are. Are current rosters of all motorized two-wheel operators (moped, motorcycle and motor scooter) being kept? Is refresher training tracked? Are safety meetings conducted and documented? Do supervisors brief operators on training, registration, and riding requirements at least annually? Are unit personnel (26 years old and under) completing a MSF course every three years?
     Several base programs will be assessed such as Lockout/Tagout, Confined Space and Hazard Abatement.
     Ensure all required training, self-inspections, procedural reviews, documentation and the reduction of unfunded open hazards have been addressed. Units with explosives, discuss responsibilities with your Unit Weapons Safety Representative and ensure all buildings are correctly marked for the level of explosive stored.
     If you have any questions or areas of concern please contact the Base Safety office at 739-3263.
     Occupational Health -- The best preparation for the occupational health portion of the ESOHCAMP is achieved by always complying with the specific exposure controls and occupational health training requirements stated in the Bioenvironmental Engineering and Industrial Hygiene survey for your industrial work area.
     Use the engineering controls (such as mechanical ventilation or shrouded sanders), personal protective equipment (such as respirators, ear plugs or rubber gloves) and other work practices recommended for your workplace.
     One of the goals of the occupational health part of ESOHCAMP is to assess if workers know what potential health hazards are associated with their jobs and what exposure controls they need to use.
     Expect a heavy emphasis on chemicals used in the workplace -- be prepared for the assessor to ask for a Material Safety Data Sheet for chemicals used on the job, documentation of required Occupational Health and Hazard Communication Training as applicable, and access to the most current IH survey.
     Check your records, review your operating instructions, and inspect your work areas for deficiencies. Show the ESOHCAMP teams that Tinker is not only the best in the Air Force at supporting the warfighter but that we are also the best at managing the safety of our people and our environment.