76th CMXG examined by mock audit team to determine VPP worthiness

Published April 18, 2008
By Brandice J. Armstrong
Tinker Public Affairs

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE -- This could be the 76th Commodities Maintenance Group's big break.
   A Department of Defense/Center of Excellence Mock Audit team from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, examined the 76th CMXG's facilities April 7-11. Their mission was to see if the commodities maintenance group was ready to be certified by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Voluntary Protection Program.
   "This was our opportunity to receive guidance from Air Staff and (Air Force Materiel Command Headquarters) on our VPP process and preparation to be an OSHA-certified VPP star site," said Col. Jeffrey Sick, 76th CMXG commander. "We are the first Air Force depot maintenance organization to go through this process and therefore we were learning from the audit team as much as they were learning from us."
   VPP is a cooperative relationship between OSHA, management, union and employees working together to ensure a better level of safety and health protection.
   The 76th CMXG implemented VPP August 2007, but has several stages to complete before the unit can claim VPP certification. In recent months, Xerox, Tinker's official mentor for VPP inspected the commodities maintenance group's processes.
   In preparation of sending a VPP application to OSHA, the 76th CMXG invited a mock audit team to inspect their processes.
   "This is just another check and balance that the Air Force and Department of Defense installed to make sure we are ready," said Christopher Stulken, 76th CMXG VPP American Federation of Government Employees Local 916 lead. "They want to make sure our program meets all the requirements of VPP before OSHA visits."
   The mock audit team is composed of one Air Force VPP member, one AFMC Headquarters member, one AFMC Headquarters Ground Safety member and four DOD/CX members.
   The Center of Excellence is headquartered out of Arlington, Va., and is contracted by the DOD. Many members are former OSHA VPP inspectors.
   "We wanted the hardest assessment with the best-possible auditors," said Justin Hottle, 76th CMXG VPP management team lead.
   In addition to the audit, the DOD/CX team conducted formal and informal interviews with 76th CMXG shop employees to assess their knowledge of VPP, as well as their health and safety concerns.
   "There are 200 to 400 different questions on the OSHA Web site,' said Mr. Stulken said. "They don't want to intimidate, they just want to get a good consensus of the concerns and knowledge they have. That all determines if we're ready for star status."
   Star status is VPP's highest honor and means OSHA recognized the work site's measures as healthy and safe.
   So far, the 76th CMXG may be on their way. Lt. Col. Wade Weisman, of the mock audit team, said he liked what he saw.
   "The 76th CMXG is well on their way to VPP star status," he said. "They are one of the best core teams (I've) seen to date."
   When the 76th CMXG is deemed as a VPP worthy, the application will be forwarded to OSHA. The application will likely be submitted by August.

Mock audit