EMS awareness to be vital in upcoming ESOHCAMP Published Oct. 20, 2009 By Senior Airman Clinton Atkins 97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla -- As the 97th Air Mobility Wing prepares for the Environmental, Safety and Occupational Health Compliance Assessment and Management Program to be held Oct. 19 to 23, base personnel are reminded to be aware of ESOH policy and procedures. In the previous months, the Natural Resources Flight has been vigilant in shedding light on important ESOH concerns to prevent unnecessary write-ups during the upcoming inspection, which is held every three years. "Our role for not only the upcoming inspection, but for the future of this base is to maximize our mission while minimizing all environmental impacts," said Dave Wallace, chief of the Natural Resources Flight. "We are working tirelessly with the units on base to ensure everyone has everything in order for the ESOHCAMP. Currently, we are conducting two-a-day inspections where we go around base making checks to see if shops are compliant, and if they aren't we tell them what they should do to fix it." The Natural Resources Flight is also spreading awareness through base-wide e-mails, messages on an electronic billboard and good-old-fashion word-of-mouth. "We are using every means available to make people aware of the (Environmental Management System)," said Mike Reyes, EMS program manager. "Everyone needs to know the importance of EMS and what their role is. According to the Natural Resources Flight, there are a few areas above all else that are a concern for the upcoming ESOHCAMP. One such concern is hazardous material lockers, "which are hard to maintain while conducting a day-to-day shop that fixes aircraft for a military mission," said Mr. Wallace. "Another concern is the (material safety data sheets) because you must have an MSDS for every single chemical you have in your shop; it has to be brand- and date-specific," he said. "The chemical on your MSDS has to match what you have on hand and that can be a challenge when items people are using are constantly changing." Mr. Reyes said universal waste/turn-in for light bulbs is another thing to worry about. "If you have a green tip or green writing on a florescent tube then they can just go in the trash," he said. "If it has a silver tip or black writing, those florescent light bulbs must go into a universal waste container. Mr. Reyes said during the ESOHCAMP, inspectors may ask anyone the following questions: What are the impacts of your job on the environment? How do you handle those impacts? What do you do to decrease those impacts? What are the environmental training requirements of your job? What do you do if there is a chemical spill (inside and outside)? According to what the Natural Resources Flight has seen around the base so far, Altus AFB is on track to for a successful ESOHCAMP. "We're on track to do well during the ESOHCAMP and as long as everyone maintains their awareness it will be successful," said Mr. Wallace.