Cannon to implement VPP for safety Published Oct. 6, 2008 By Airman 1st Class Elliott Sprehe 27th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- As Cannon celebrated the anniversary of its first year under Air Force Special Operations Command, the wing safety office was busy planning the birth of a new program at the base to improve safety. The Voluntary Protection Program, created in 1982, is run by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and partners with businesses and worksites that are committed to going beyond the safety requirements of OSHA standards to protect their employees. AFSOC recognizes people as the most important resource, as shown in one of the four Special Operations Forces truths - humans are more important than hardware. In addition, AFSOC believes the VPP reinforces this idea by developing systems to help prevent employee injuries and illnesses. A recent letter from AFSOC commander Lt. Gen. Donald Wurster to Special Operations Wing commanders is an example of AFSOC's support of VPP. Dated May 2, General Wurster wrote that the VPP will reduce AFSOC mishap numbers and protect people. He added that the program will also meet the Secretary of Defense's goal of reducing injuries and illnesses up to 75 percent. With only approximately 10 bases currently engaged in the VPP, the Air Force plans to have every Air Force installation enrolled in the program by 2010. "First, we will invite OSHA to come (to Cannon), look at our documentation, our safety plans and programs, and assess working job sites," said Master Sgt. William Keely, 27th Special Operations Wing Safety Office. "Afterwards, they will give us a plan to both meet and exceed OSHA standards." An OSHA team will visit Cannon Nov. 3 - 7 for an initial site assessment that, over time, will determine the base's status, either "star" or "merit". According to OSHA, the VPP states that merit sites have good safety and health management systems, but they need improvement to be judged excellent. Merit is the steppingstone to star status, which is designed for installations with detailed, successful safety and health management programs. After the assessment, OSHA will provide a roadmap on how to achieve star status, said Sergeant Keely. "To get to star status, it will likely be two to three years," said Sergeant Keely. "Since the recent transition to AFSOC, we're a smaller base, and by starting out now, we can have the program engrained in our personnel." "It involves the lowest ranking Airman," said Sergeant Keely, "Everyone will become a safety professional." The VPP will not create new safety programs for AFSOC, but will streamline and enhance existing processes to improve the base safety program. It is a tool to get the workforce involved and drive down injury rates to increase operational capability. AFSOC's ultimate VPP goal is to engage the entire base populace from the senior staff down to any Airman on the base the opportunity to have a direct impact on a safer work place," said Richard Peterson, 27th SOW safety office chief. "And in the process, making for more efficient and cost-effective use of AF resources."