Air Force Research Laboratory prepared to meet VPP goal Published April 8, 2009 By Daryl Mayer 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- The results of the Gap Analysis confirmed what many already believed -- that the Air Force Research Laboratory has a firm foundation to meet the ultimate Voluntary Protection Program goal of driving down preventable mishaps to zero. The analysis, conducted in early April of AFRL directorates located at Wright-Patterson, consisted of visits to 20 separate work centers and more than 30 formal interviews. Lt. Col. Wade Weisman from the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Installations, Environment and Logistics led the team of safety professionals conducting the analysis. Overall, Colonel Weisman said, "AFRL is extremely well organized across the board." The purpose of the analysis is to document the directorate's progress and identify any areas needing improvement. The "gaps" between current standing and the requirements are recorded electronically in an "eVPP" tool until they are corrected and closed. Once sufficient gap closure progress has been made, they apply to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for a formal worksite inspection. "Our thanks to the whole team for helping us better understand our baseline," said the AFRL Vice Commander, Colonel David Glade II. "The team validated that we have a good basis, but also pointed out ways we can get better in our workplace safety and health." Colonel Glade chaired the VPP Executive Steering Committee, a group comprised of all the deputy directors across AFRL. The group has been charged by Maj. Gen. Curtis Bedke, AFRL commander, to personally oversee the Lab's VPP progress. "I appreciate all the support given to the team this week," Colonel Weisman said. "The senior leader commitment in AFRL is really astounding and that is good. OSHA will sense that commitment right away when they come to visit later." Colonel Weisman identified a number of areas that showed great consistency, especially in safety procedures training. He suggested some of those "best practice" workcenters could share their processes with other units to achieve the same results across the Wright Research Site and AFRL as a whole. Of the 243 total elements the team observed, AFRL showed that 83 percent were either completed or in progress. Although VPP is ultimately an OSHA program to recognize "best in class" worksites, it is widely credited throughout industry for dramatic reductions in workplace accidents and the associated costs in terms of both dollars and human tragedy.