AFMC Command News

Team assesses Hanscom's environmental compliance

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Martha L. Petersante-Gioia
  • 66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  Over the past week, a small group of individuals could be seen roaming the base, appearing to be searching for something. This group did not limit themselves to just Hanscom, they also traveled to various geographically separated units as well.

This group of volunteer military members and civilians, some with either environmental, safety or occupational health professional backgrounds, are members of Hanscom's Environmental Safety and Occupational Health Compliance Assessment Management Program.

The all-volunteer team put the base to the test, checking Hanscom's level of compliance with all applicable federal, state, Department of Defense and United States Air Force environmental regulations in the 13 major environmental protocols, plus an additional 60 safety and occupational health protocols June 12 through 16.

New this year to the line up was the involvement of the Electronic Systems Center Safety Office as they worked side-by-side with volunteers to ensure the base was in compliance with various safety codes.

"This is the first time we have incorporated safety protocols into this assessment," said Senior Master Sgt. Scott Livingston, ESC Safety Office superintendent, "This was a perfect opportunity to showcase the OSHA [Occupational Safety and Health Administration] Voluntary Protection Program partnerships across the base, including unions and contractors. Employee safety involvement and empowerment are critical to this program and this assessment was a good baseline on how the workplaces are doing [from a safety standpoint].

"The general safety awareness throughout Hanscom is good," he said. "There is pride in work centers and people want to make things look good while making sure that all safety standards are met."

Criteria used for this assessment includes: findings, which have three categories — significant, major and minor; positive finding and management practice. Findings listed in all categories are calculated and used for an installation's overall rating.

"Our approach this year was much more comprehensive than in previous years," said Lt. Col. Timothy J. Sheehan, Individual Mobilization Augmentee to the technical director at the Air Force Center of Environmental Excellence and Hanscom's team chief for ESOHCAMP. "This allowed us to find various opportunities to improve upon our current processes."

Certain areas of base operations were found to have deficient systems under the safety protocols, he said. However, learning from past inspections, the "hazardous waste management has improved greatly over the years and the improvement was apparent in this assessment," he said. "The improvements resulted in four positive findings in this critical environmental compliance area."

Hanscom is subjected to ESOHCAMP annually and every three years an external team is tasked to inspect. The base team cited support from leadership, management and workers' awareness and positive attitudes towards workplace safety and occupational health requirements for aiding in installation's results.

"I'm proud of the volunteers that stepped forward to carry out this vital work," said Col. Tom Schluckebier, 66th Air Base Wing vice commander. "These inspections serve a vital role in gaining insights that will help Hanscom maintain the safest possible living and working conditions for our people while at the same time continuing to be good stewards of the environment."