Super Stars among us

  • Published
  • By Ms. Macy Hinds
  • 97 AMW/PA
ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  The 97th Maintenance Group (MXG) focuses on meeting the safety requirements set by the National Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for all aircraft at Altus AFB. However, these superior 688 individuals assigned to the MXG don’t stop at just meeting safety requirements; they are blowing them out of the water.

On May 2, 2018, the 97th MXG all-civilian staff received the prestigious OSHA VPP “Super Star among Stars” Safety Award for their outstanding work in fiscal year 2017. The group was presented the award at the Regional VI Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) Conference in Fort Worth, Texas.

“The National Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) sets national averages for 2 main safety indicators,” explains Mr. Bryan Doyle, Safety Specialist assigned to the 97th Maintenance Group. “The first tracks ‘Total Case Injury Rates’ (TCIR) and the second, ‘Days away restricted time’ (DART).”

Groups who stay at least 50 percent below the BLS national industry average are eligible to qualify for awards such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) “Super Star among Stars” safety award.

Staying below the 50 percent averages is exceptional by any standard and the 97th MXG has had no trouble consistently meeting this goal. They reached this milestone requirement every year from 2011 to 2016. There is a reason they are called the “A-Team” after all. However, in 2017, the Group reached a new milestone in safety excellence.

Doyle elaborates, “Based off the required 3 year average numbers, the 97th MXG recorded TCIR and DART rates that were an astonishing 75 percent or more below the BLS national industry average, thus reaching a new level in worksite safety and qualifying the 97th MXG for the prestigious ‘Super Star among Stars’ safety award.”

The MXG will continue to be acknowledged at the Wing this summer. The MXG Director of Maintenance, Mr. Kelly Bailey, is hosting a free burger burn for all 97th MXG employees on all three shifts. Leadership will be cooking and serving the food to the employees to congratulate them on their recent award.

The 97th MXG continues to work hard and put the safety of our Airmen above all else. The award suits the “A-Team” who is nothing short of a group of super stars.