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Air Force Global Logistics Support Center hosts safety meetings

  • Published
  • By Air Force Global Logistics Support Center
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  The Air Force Global Logistics Support Center, 635th Supply Chain Operations Wing, and 635th Supply Chain Operations Group recently hosted the Department of Defense Voluntary Protection Program Center of Excellence Gap Analysis Team.

The VPP Gap Analysis assessment consisted of a three day visit to accomplish three core objectives: education of site personnel, development of a comprehensive gap analysis and action plan, and training unit personnel.

The assessment also included a review of all unit safety and occupational health related documents, Host Tenant Support Agreements, and personnel interviews. Also included were discussions with senior AFGLSC leadership, the National Association of Government Employees Local R7-23, 375th Air Mobility Wing base agencies including the Bioenvironmental Engineering and Safety offices, and finally, a work-site assessment of all AFGLSC occupied facilities.

The AFGLSC, 635th SCOW, and 635th SCOG were assessed in 243 areas including various aspects of management leadership and employee involvement, work site analysis, hazard prevention and control, and safety and health training. Findings were used to provide a gap analysis to show where improvement can be made.

As the VPP CX team explained during the out brief, "The gap analysis is designed to look at safety and health goals and objectives and determine how well they are identified and communicated. It also looks at the effectiveness of the current safety and health program and identifies opportunities to continuously improve. The AFGLSC will use the gap analysis as a future roadmap to help focus their safety and health efforts in their quest for VPP safety excellence."

In an effort to decrease safety mishaps and increase safety situational awareness, Maj. Gen. Gary T. McCoy, Air Force Global Logistic Support Center commander, directed the implementation of the OSHA Voluntary Protection Program in March for the AFGLSC, 635th SCOW, and 635th SCOG personnel at Scott.

VPP was implemented by OSHA in 1982 to promote and recognize effective worksite based safety and health management and was launched by the Air Force in 2006 to meet the Secretary of Defense's goal to reduce mishaps by 75 percent in 2008. VPP creates a positive safety culture and climate change through management commitment and employee involvement by modifying and enhancing existing programs to increase overall effectiveness.

"VPP is not just another safety program," said General McCoy. "It's a process that defines a single system and structured approach to help achieve the goal of working more safely. Safety should never be an afterthought and needs to be incorporated into all our daily activities, both on and off duty. In the AFGLSC, the safety and physical well-being of our people and their families is our number one priority. VPP is the program which will help us achieve our goals. Our leadership's involvement is critical in any safety program and makes a tremendous difference in driving down accidents."