Green lights across the board for Altus ESOHCAMP assessment

  • Published
  • By Kenny Scarle
  • 97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  The Environmental, Safety and Occupational Health Compliance Assessment and Management Program Team has completed their evaluation of the 97th Air Mobility Wing. And the Mighty 97th's hard work has paid off big. Months of preparation have led to a "Green" rating, the top score given in overall program health, compliance and management system categories.

"You knocked our socks off," said Teddy James, ESOHCAMP Program Manager.

From October 19 to Oct 23, the ESOHCAMP Team conducted numerous inspections of Altus AFB, to ensure regulation and safety compliance. With more than one hundred ninety facilities on base examined, two hundred forty-five personnel interviewed, and one thousand twenty-nine documents reviewed, the team determined Altus to be one of the most outstanding facilities inspected to date.

"Altus Air Force base has remarkably high numbers here," said Mr. James. "For example, you have a benchmark Refrigerant Program. It's very unusual to find such an outstanding program with no hazardous waste [violations] at all."

"This is a big deal. It's not just an assessment, but an inspection," said Col. Stuart Shaw, 97th Air Mobility Wing vice commander. "Just coming off our UCI, we kept it going...fantastic work."

Four Altus AFB personnel were also honored as outstanding performers during the evaluation.

Mr. Michael Reyes, 97 CES/CEAN - As the CFT facilitator, Mr. Reyes helped create awareness of the EMS program at Altus with posters, Frisbees, EMS E-mails, and other innovative items so the EMS program is always in the forefront of base personnel.
TSgt Michael Ballor, 97th LRS/LGRF - As the Fuels Management Flight Compliance Element Section Chief, TSgt Ballor established a thorough tank inspection program, indentifying numerous discrepancies and developing corrective measures. He also is responsible to ensure resolution on one of Altus AFB's most significant environmental issues - replacement of the dikes at the bulk storage facilities, and making sure the project stays on schedules and complies with all environmental standards.

Mr. Jeff Hansel, 97th AMW/MXQS - Mr. Hansel has developed a comprehensive SharePoint HAZCOM training program for the 97th Maintenance Directorate, or A-Team. It provides links to detailed, shop-specific and current training which exceeds current requirements. Mr. Hansel has helped to ensure A-Team personnel are trained to do their jobs safely, with the proper tools to do so.

Mr. Greg Crosswhite, 97th AMW/MXFF - As the primary Hazardous Waste Accumulation Point Manager for 27 IAPs in four separate facilities, Mr. Crosswhite set up a benchmark program throughout the Wing with his superb database, exceptional IAP lockers and outstanding continuity binders.

The ESOHCAMP Team was very impressed with Altus' efforts at preparation for the inspection and praised their efforts at making sure base personnel were prepared. With only a few areas needing some work, and most earmarked as isolated incidents, Col. Shaw said we can't stop at this one evaluation.

"The most important thing is when we find something that needs improvement, we make the call and fix it," said Col. Shaw, "but it's not a band aid. We fix it long term. These programs have to have legs - we've got to keep them going."