VPP helps put safety in workplace

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class David Carbajal
  • 3rd Wing Public Affairs
ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  In 2006, there were 2,200 reported active duty injuries and nearly 4,500 injuries to the civilian workforce within the Air Force which amounted to more than $125 million in civilian compensation. In an effort to reduce these numbers, Air Force senior leadership has mandated the use of the Voluntary Protection Program. 

The VPP is a partnership between the Air Force and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to promote effective safety and health programs. 

The Air Force, having the lowest injury percentage in DoD, will now attempt to decrease that percentage even more. 

After successful implementation of the program at the first nine bases, Elmendorf will begin initial steps to install it here. 

The VPP program, originally established in 1982 by OSHA, is designed to hold standards greater than those required by OSHA. 

"The great thing about this program is it simply builds on the programs the Air Force already has in place," said Lt. Col. Wade Weisman, the Director of the Occupational Health and Force Health Protection at the Pentagon. "Which should make it an easy, painless transition." 

This program will be mixed in with already existing ones such as the wingmen concept, Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century, and Air Force Occupational Safety and Health. 

Arctic Warriors within this program develop and implement systems to effectively identify, evaluate, prevent, and control occupational hazards to prevent employee injuries and illnesses. As a result, the average worksite has a lost workday incidence rate at least 50 percent below the average of its industry. 

"Who better to identify potential hazards than the working Airmen," Colonel Weisman said. 

The VPP program focuses on four basic elements: 

Management leadership and employment involvement - Both officers and enlisted leadership should be aware of any and all activities in the work environment; 

Work site analysis - Analyze the work environment for safety issues; 

Hazard prevention and control - Understanding potential hazards and the ability to eliminate them, and 

Safety and health training - Base employees become trained to identify safety and health issues within the workplace. 

Commanders, first sergeants and supervisors are to set the tone for this program, but the non-supervisory personnel must participate to insure a successful campaign. 

"To achieve the 'Star Status,' we'll need all base personnel to play a role in the program," said Bob Madara, Occupational Health and Safety Manager. "Only world-class worksites receive this honor." 

Before the star status can be awarded, the base will receive a gap assessment and an OSHA visit, which is expected to happen within the next year.