New hotline addresses unresolved safety concerns Published Aug. 13, 2008 By 72nd ABW Safety Office Tinker Air Force Base TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla., -- A new hotline is available for workers with unresolved safety concerns. As a VPP initiative and as an extension of the USAF Form 457, Hazard Reporting System, the 72nd ABW Safety Office has incorporated a safety hotline for the convenience of unresolved employee safety concerns. An unresolved safety concern is a hazard that once identified, was verbally reported to a supervisor or another member the chain-of-command, then given a reasonable amount of time to be resolved, but remains unresolved. Personnel are highly encouraged to continue utilizing the USAF Form 457, but they now also have the option of accessing the hotline at 739-SAFE (7233). Either option should only be used as a last resort, after management has been given a fair opportunity to resolve the issue at hand. Upon receipt of the phone message, the Safety Office will assign a safety professional to investigate the potential hazard and, if found to be a valid hazard, a USAF Form 457 will be initiated at that time and further investigation will continue until the issue has been resolved. If the concern is found to be invalid, the matter will be administratively closed by the safety office. It is not mandatory to leave personal information when accessing the hotline but it is highly encouraged so safety professionals can provide feedback to callers. The status of all hazards identified through the hotline will be maintained in a database available to all Tinker personnel on the Safety web page. When calling 739-SAFE, personnel should expect to leave a message thoroughly identifying the hazard they are calling to report. Persons calling should provide the following information to ensure adequate information is available for Safety professionals to locate the hazard. Information must include: a brief description of the hazard, the building number and post or room location. It is not mandatory that personal contact information be left, but this information will allow for direct feedback to the caller as well as provide safety professionals with a point-of-contact if they are unable to locate the potential hazard with the information provided. Personal contact information will only be used in the manner stated. The safety hotline will be a "no fear" reporting method for personnel to report safety hazards that they feel have not been acted upon. The new safety hotline, 739-SAFE became fully functional Monday.