Voluntary Protection Program reduces injuries, illness

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Lindsey Hahn
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  All three wings at Travis are implementing the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Voluntary Protection Program in an effort to reduce the number of preventable injuries and illnesses. 

The Department of Defense hopes to reduce safety incidents by 75 percent through this program which is aimed to empower all personnel to identify safety concerns and enact change. 

According to the DoD, injuries and illnesses cost an estimated $10 to $21 billion annually. This program will help reduce that number, freeing money for other programs while also keeping Airmen safe and ready to deploy when they are supposed to, rather than having to deploy short-notice after another member is injured. 

"Airmen shouldn't consider this an additional duty because it should not add any additional time," said Lt. Col. Jeff Pierce, 60th Air Mobility Wing chief of safety. "This is a way to make everyone's job safer, ensure less missed work days and last minute deployments caused by preventable illnesses and injuries." 

There are five principles for the program: 

1. Everyone is responsible for safety 

2. Job risks can and will be managed by everyone 

3. Injuries are preventable with training, preparation and total awareness 

4. Leadership is accountable for ensuring a safe work environment 

5. All safety begins with you 

"Everyone has a slice of safety," said Capt. James Kerley, Commander's Action Group chief. "We are empowering individuals to take ownership of their own worksite safety so we can better meet our wartime mission." 

In this program, all Airmen are urged to address safety and health concerns regardless of rank and are provided outlets for anonymously reporting safety concerns including the VPP hotline at 424-SAFE (7233) and the VPP email at 60AMW.VPP@travis.af.mil. 

The VPP began in the civilian business world in 1982 and has yielded a reduction in incidents on average of 52 percent during the 25 years the program has existed. 
Eventually Team Travis would like to achieve "Star Status" which is awarded to any program that demonstrates an exemplary safety and health program. 

"It will take awhile to get there," said Captain Kerley. "We will need everyone's buy-in to achieve the goal. Everyone has a major stake in the success of this program." 

For more information, contact the 60th AMW safety office at 424-1113 or Captain Kerley at 424-4198.