VPP promotes safety culture

  • Published
  • By Bob Holby
  • Base Voluntary Protection Program
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  "Oh, no, Joe, didn't you see that metal rod lying on the floor? How could you miss it? It's been there for three days. It sure is too bad you slipped, fell and broke your wrist. I guess I should have picked it up one of the times I walked by, huh?" 

A scene such as this can be avoided. Watching out for your wingman, your friend, your co-worker and your family member is very important. A small action on your part may save someone's life, or save a piece of government equipment or one of any host of other things. 

The Voluntary Protection Program process is about each member of Team Travis helping to build the "Culture of Safety" by acting as our own safety manager. 

The rules are simple. If you see something hazardous, fix it. If you can't fix it, mark it so others can see the hazard while you report it. Don't wait for someone else to fix it. Don't wait for the safety office to do something. Don't wait until someone gets hurt. 

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration developed the VPP process more than 25 years ago for the private business world. In an effort to reduce mishaps, Travis became involved with the process in 2006. We are trying to follow a lot of guidelines and run our safety programs in a specific way so we can gain the OSHA recognition called Star Status. If we attain this status, we will join a group of just 2,000 businesses and agencies in the U.S. to meet the stringent standards. 

We already have one of the best safety programs in the world, but to attain this status, we have to do just one more thing: ensure that every military and civilian employee at Travis feels like and acts their own safety manager, seeking out safety hazards, fixing them and reporting them. You can report a hazard in many ways. Let your supervisor know about the problem, you can tell the first shirt, or you can get in touch with your unit safety representative. 

Additionally, There is a brand new way to report hazards. Just this week, Col. Mark Dillon, 60th Air Mobility Wing commander, put a safety hazard reporting "easy" button on the Travis sharepoint and home page. Your computer should open to this page when you go to the internet. On the right side, you'll see a red safety button. If you click on it, you are directed to a hazard reporting form. Fill out as much information and detail as possible so that the safety office can find and identify the hazard. 

The wing safety office will investigate the hazard, determine the proper actions and get the right people working the problem. We'll let you know our action plan so you can follow the progress. 

Some of the hazards will be fixed almost immediately, others may take some time, but rest assured, you have gotten the information directly to the right folks. 

As you live your life, work your job and enjoy your time off, think about a question Colonel Dillon often asks: "Where will the next accident happen at Travis?" 

If you see a hazard or potential problem, you have just answered the question. So take some time, fix it, mark it and report it.