Altus embraces voluntary protection programs

  • Published
  • By Michael Fletcher
  • 97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  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. 

Altus Air Force Base is one of 18 Air Force installations that will implement the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Voluntary Protection Program in an effort to reduce the number of work-related injuries and illnesses. The program has the full support of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 2586 union and their represented members on the Altus AFB "A Team." The Air Force's stated goal is to make VPP an on- and off-duty priority for all Airmen. 

June 30, in a ceremony 10 a.m. in Hanger 509, Altus AFB will sign a VPP mentorship agreement between the 97th Maintenance Directorate and Valero Ardmore Refinery. OSHA requires any organization seeking VPP to identify and partner with a VPP-certified agency that can serve as a mentor and steer the VPP-seeking organization in the right direction. The Valero Refining Co. in Ardmore, Okla., earned its "Star" VPP rating in 2005, maintaining an injury and illness rate 79 percent below the national average for the industry. 

"All of us within the VPP/Safety Office agree that this is an outstanding employee-based Safety and Health program,  truly geared for the employee," said David Fortuna, Altus AFB VPP office. As we press on with the professional guidance from Team Valero, this will, without question, benefit every employee within the A-Team and Altus AFB. Everyone in the office all strongly concurs that if we loose focus of the true meaning of VPP, this program will never work." 

VPP, administered by OSHA, focuses on improving safety and occupational health performance. The program is recognized as an accident reduction "best practice" for the private sector to improve safety in industrial operations and has been adopted by the Defense Safety Oversight Council's Installations Task Force. Program elements include employee involvement and management leadership, work site analysis, hazard prevention and control, safety and health training. Employees are encouraged to submit Employee Hazard Reports on areas where they see needed change or suggestions for safety improvement.

Private sector VPP participants have seen a 60 percent reduction in injuries, 20 percent reduction in worker's compensation costs, and a 150 percent return on investments, program officials said. In practice, VPP sets performance-based measures for a managed safety and health system. Statistical evidence shows that the average VPP work site has a Days Away Restricted or Transferred case rate of 52 percent below the average. 

The A-Team and Valero will work together to expand VPP awareness through improvement of the Altus Safety and Health Management system at worksites, improve communications and share VPP best practices and lessons learned. Valero agrees to work cooperatively with the Maintenance Directorate to provide safety and health information, mentorship and training, including establishing a Valero mentorship contact in each worksite.