Photo By Lance Cpl. Kevin Ferguson | Paul Gullick, the Air Station's tactical safety specialist, teaches a basic...... read more read more
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By Lance Cpl. Kevin T. Ferguson
All Air Station civilian employees are now required to complete minimum safety training requirements by February 2011, according to Policy Letter 01-10, effective, Feb. 2.
The required training is Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Volunteer Protection Program compliant. Both civilian and military organizations use the VPP program worldwide.
The main focus of VPP and the Air Station's Department of Safety and Standardization is safety and hazard prevention aboard the Air Station.
"What we're looking for is that everybody is saying, 'safety is my job'...and a big part of that is our training process," said Del Tingley, the explosive safety officer for the Air Station.
Civilian employees will need to attend a 10-hour course on general safety and a course on operational risk management. The 10-hour course covers the basics such as electrical outlet usage and proper protective equipment, and the ORM course is required to help avoid unnecessary risks or loss of assets.
Civilian supervisors and managers must attend a four-hour supervisors' safety class and all unit safety representatives must attend a 30-hour general safety course.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration graded the Air Station Safety Office on how well they met the VPP requirements when they first picked up the program March 2009. The Air Station was 42 percent VPP compliant — the highest for any entry-level military instillation.
Since then, the Air Station has moved forward to 54 percent. Safety's goal is to reach 100 percent and obtain VPP star status.
According to Tingley, in order to receive star status the Air Station must meet 243 total subcategories throughout the four main categories: management leadership employment involvement, worksite analysis, hazard prevention control and safety and health training.
Air Station Safety has been tasked with meeting star status by March 2011 — only two years after their initial assessment. Other military instillations have taken up to four years, according to Mike Giese, the safety and occupational health specialist for the Air Station.
Upon receiving star status, the Air Station will receive a VPP star status flag — a flag that is flown with pride by organizations that are 100 percent VPP compliant, according to Giese.
"I would like to see that flag flying over the Air Station before [Col. John Snider, the Air Station commanding officer] leaves," Giese said.
According to Policy Letter 01-10, new Air Station civilian employees have one year to complete the required training from their date of hire.
| Date Taken: | 02.19.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 02.19.2010 08:22 |
| Story ID: | 45557 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS AIR STATION BEAUFORT, SC, US |
| Web Views: | 211 |
| Downloads: | 182 |
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