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Travis chosen to be first AMC installation to implement VPP safety program

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Candy Knight
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Team Travis has been selected to be the first Air Mobility Command base to implement the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Voluntary Protection Program in an effort to reduce the number of preventable work-related injuries and illnesses.

According to the National Safety Council, preventable injuries and illnesses cost the Department of Defense an estimated 10 to 21 billion dollars annually.

In 1982, OSHA developed VPP to recognize and promote effective worksite-based safety and health management systems.

The Air Force launched VPP this year as one tool to reduce mishaps.

According to Capt. James Kerley, Deputy Chief of Commander's Action Group, when AMC was looking for an installation to begin implementation of the program, Travis was one of the first installations they looked at.

"When AMC was selected to begin VPP rollout in fiscal 2007, they were looking for a top-notch installation to be the first to implement this program," he said. "Naturally, they looked to Travis because of our diverse partnerships and broad mission spectrum and that helped make us the obvious choice."

Mr. Vance Lineberger, Deputy for Safety and Occupational Health for the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force, explained that VPP doesn't institute new safety programs; it builds upon safety programs already in place.

"What VPP does is tweak programs Travis already has in place to see how we can make those programs better," he said. "The program is designed to get every Airman and his Wingman to start actively identifying and taking action to eliminate safety and health hazards," he added.

The program focuses on four principle elements: management leadership and employment involvement, work site analysis, hazard prevention and control safety and health training.

"Leadership must enable and encourage effective employee involvement by allowing them to voluntary participate in committees, audits and investigations," said Mr. Lineberger. "They must also know that when they submit suggestions, they will receive feedback, whether or not their suggestion is going to be used."

"Although the Air Force has a stellar safety program, the one piece that was missing was employee involvement," Captain Kerley said. "That is where VPP comes in. It has a proven 20-plus year record of progress and the number of days away from work is reduced by an average of 52 percent."

Travis' goal is to reach "Star Status," which is the program's highest honor and means that Travis has all VPP requirements met.

"By giving the ownership of safety responsibility directly into the hands of every Airman, much like the Operational Risk Management program, VPP will empower every Airman, civilian and laborer at Travis to have an equal voice on workplace safety," Captain Kerley said. "The success of this program is reliant upon everyone practicing the Wingman concept every day. If you see a dangerous situation developing or if you see something that doesn't seem right, speak up. By being proactive, we will do our part to keep each other safe," he added.