ASC Receives VPP Star Status Published Jan. 13, 2010 By Bill Hancock 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs WRIGHT- PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- The Aeronautical Systems Center Command Section recently received Occupational Safety and Health Administration and 88th Air Base Wing Voluntary Protection Program office validation as a Star Worksite. "Having the Star flag will show all employees that ASC Headquarters is serious about the health and safety of its people," said Lt. Gen. Thomas J. Owen, ASC commander. "I am fortunate to have inherited a robust program from past ASC Commander Lt. Gen. Hudson, and we have an excellent team responsible for keeping safety awareness high and recognizing employee participation. The 88 ABW also has a model VPP program." The ASC Command Section has been recognized as a Star Worksite for the outstanding and exemplary occupational safety and health status performance of its leadership and employees. They will be awarded the VPP Star Status during a 12:30 p.m. ceremony Jan. 20 at the Air Force Institute of Technology's Bane Hall. "Throughout my career I have been very aware that leadership must address by example the principles of a safe and healthy worksite. The principles of the VPP program are clear: when someone leaves governmental service they should leave with all the physical amenities they arrived with," General Owen said. Sometimes safety and health considerations are not so apparent. As General Owen explained, "During my previous command of Warner-Robins ALC, I was responsible for a base populace of approximately 20,000. Of those positions, roughly 8,000 were industrial work positions. Those positions have a more visual presence of workplace hazards such as working from heights, handling tools and machinery, chemicals, and other pronounced hazards. Administrative positions might not have such obvious visual hazards, but workplace safety and health are just as important. Slips, falls, and accidents can be quite dangerous. To illustrate, during a previous assignment here in ASC, one of our employees experienced a terrible fall as they attempted to change the time on a wall clock; they were standing on a chair with wheels when they should have been on a ladder. Leaders strive to have safe and secure employees; our culture of being a good wingman is also key to our success." Asked to acknowledge a best practice of his command, General Owen pointed to the ASC ERGO Wingman program, a volunteer-based program that includes a training session taught by an outside expert. After completion of the training, ERGO Wingmen perform inspections on other employees in their building and provide suggestions on making their workspace more ergonomically correct. "As an example, when I took command, the configuration of my computer and workspace was causing me pain and discomfort. At the end of my day, my arms were hurting," General Owen said. "I worked with the ERGO Wingmen to correct some issues, and today, I am pain and discomfort free." The 88 ABW VPP office works to establish cooperative relationships at WPAFB workplaces to promote effective worksite-based safety and health programs. Only those workplaces who have implemented comprehensive OSHA safety and health management can receive official VPP Star Program status, the highest designation of having taken on and completing the challenge of rigorous program requirements. Simone Koram, director of the 88 ABW VPP, said "Awareness, support, readiness, and teamwork are all practices of VPP. The principles of health and safety are viral and can be applied at work and home. The ASC Command Section has made it a priority to serve the requirements of the VPP program, and their designation as OSHA Star Worksite is proof that the care and well-being of employees is a priority. Kudos to the ASC command section for their VPP Star Status."