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OC-ALC groups shooting for VPP Star Status

  • Published
  • By John Esquivel
  • OC-ALC VPP Program Manager
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE - Okla. --  Three major organizations at the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex are currently undergoing intensive OSHA Voluntary Protection Program's audits through Nov. 21 in a proactive effort to reduce injuries and protect lives.

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration is conducting VPP Star Audits for the 76th Commodities Maintenance Group, the 76th Maintenance Support Group and the 76th Propulsion Maintenance Group.

VPP promotes effective worksite-based safety and health. In VPP, management, labor and OSHA establish cooperative relationships at workplaces that have implemented a comprehensive safety and health management system.

In practice, VPP sets performance-based criteria for a managed safety and health system, invites sites to apply, then assesses applicants against these criteria. OSHA's verification includes an application review and a rigorous onsite evaluation -- audits -- by a team of OSHA safety and health experts.

Businesses and industries who participate in VPP must meet the criteria specified in OSHA's Cooperative and State Programs to apply for VPP Star recognition. Once the criteria are met, VPP sites can apply to OSHA for a VPP Star Audit.

After the VPP Star Audit, and if the VPP site demonstrates and meets OSHA's criteria, they will be awarded VPP Star Status: Recognition by OSHA to that business or industry for employees who demonstrate exemplary achievement in the prevention and control of occupational safety and health hazards, and the development, implementation and continuous improvement of their safety and health management system.

Tinker Air Force Base has seven VPP sites, five of them in the OC-ALC.
Currently, the 76th Software Maintenance Group/Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex Staff VPP site is the only Tinker VPP site that has earned OSHA VPP Star recognition (2012). The 76th CMXG, 76th MXSG and 76th PMXG hope to join them as VPP Star sites in 2015.