VPP Gameplan program kicks off

Published Oct. 16, 2009
By Brandice J. Armstrong
Tinker Public Affairs

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Forget OU or OSU football this autumn season. October kicks off the Tinker Voluntary Protection Program's "Game Plan" challenge.

The incentive program dares Tinker employees to incorporate safety into their everyday lives. Participants, who do so by completing 80 percent of the suggested challenges within a six-month session, will receive prizes - four hours off and a certificate of completion.

"This program offers everyone a chance to get involved," said Pat Janeway, 76th Aircraft Maintenance Group VPP American Federation of Government Employees Local 916 spokesperson.

Organized in a booklet, the Game Plan program offers 32 safety-related activities that employees can participate in, plus an additional 11 challenges for supervisors. Activities include "chair a safety meeting in your work area," "participate in a community outreach program," and "assist a new employee in understanding the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center safety program and specific job hazards."

When an activity is sufficiently completed, an employee must have a supervisor, unit safety representative, VPP shop representative or base safety professional sign off on it.

Personnel can win only one prize apiece - a certificate and four-hour time-off block -during the six-month session.

Tinker's VPP Game Plan incentive is modeled after Puget Sound Naval Shipyard's "Passport" program, which in 2006 earned OSHA's "star program status." Meaning, OSHA praises the units' efforts to achieve and maintain a safe and healthy worksite.

The practice of VPP within the Air Force began in 2006 when then-Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld mandated the Air Force participate in the program. Nine installations, including Tinker, were selected to pioneer the idea.

To help keep Tinker's work areas safe, VPP members brainstorm ideas that will protect personnel, yet still allow them to perform their jobs in an efficient manner. Plans may range from taking an employee's suggestion to fix malfunctioning equipment or finding a better way to complete a task.

"If VPP is successful, it keeps workers' compensation low, parts get out on time and we work in safe environments," said Brady Cox, 76th Propulsion Maintenance Group VPP Steering Committee member.

Game Plan booklets were distributed after Oct. 19. For more information about the booklets or the program, call Karol Glessner, VPP base program manager at 734-0357.