CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
The 437th Logistics Readiness Squadron here took a new stride in keeping safety a top priority Sept. 3.
Lt. Col. Stevan Kaighen, 437 LRS commander, announced the squadron-level implementation of the Voluntary Protection Program, an occupational safety initiative, during his squadron commander's call before the start of the Labor Day weekend.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration developed program empowers everyone in an organization to improve their local safety program through the volunteer-based program designed to create safer and healthier work environments.
"I'm pretty excited about the VPP program. I'm trying to get my people excited about VPP," said Colonel Kaighen. "That's why I try to avoid that 'program' portion of it. Though it's referred to as a program, really I want to call this a voluntary protection culture that we're trying to instill in the LRS."
The main elements of VPP include management leadership and employee involvement, work site analysis, hazard prevention and control and safety and health training. Categorized under the four main elements are thirty-two additional sub-elements, such as VPP commitment, pre-use analysis and hazard elimination or control.
Colonel Kaighen said VPP builds on the concepts of operational risk management, and Tech. Sgt. Dirk Braun, 437 LRS unit safety representative, said it is designed to be applied both on and off duty.
"I think ORM actually has kind of the same premise in the sense that ORM has us as individuals assessing safety situations and then making decisions based on the six steps of ORM. But VPP doesn't just empower the individual over themselves, but also over others," the colonel said.
The colonel said he aimed for the 437 LRS to be the first squadron on Charleston to implement the program after becoming enthused with the prospect two years prior. As the former 437 LRS operations officer, he envisioned VPP as a part of everyday operations, and tasked Sergeant Braun with spearheading VPP development approximately one year ago.
One look inside the 437 LRS command section building reveals evidence the program is in full effect. Walls, doors, windows, work centers and latrine areas in Building 610 are covered with informational posters headlining VPP.
"VPP isn't just another program," said Sergeant Braun. "It's about a culture change."
Colonel Kaighen said the change required for VPP will be for the good of all, and is also integral to the program's prosperity.
"The challenge that comes with this is changing the culture where we as a military force have to encourage others not to be disrespectful or not conscious of rank or position, but yet to be professional so we can help everyone within the squadron," he said. "I want you to be able to come to me and tell me not to stand on top of a desk to change a light bulb, but to do so in a professional manner so I'm willing to accept that feedback and that myself, as a [commander], see it as the right thing you are doing. That's what that's all about."
At the start of the commander's call Colonel Kaighen introduced the program, followed by an explanation from Sergeant Braun, who provided his outlook on the new program.
"The biggest thing I wanted people to understand was that I need their help. It is up to everyone to make VPP happen," he said.
Also during the commander's call, each squadron member received a plastic wallet card outlining the four main elements and 32 sub elements of VPP, explaining what everyone should expect of the program.
Sergeant Braun explained to 437 LRS Airmen some of the newer concepts of the program, such as the reporting of near-mishaps, whereas traditionally, incidents are documented only after they have actually occurred.
VPP is centered around each individual's own ability to best understand his or her work environment and then provides a means to address potential hazards and resolve them in order to create a safer environment.
"This is probably one of the greatest initiatives we've taken on in a sense of developing a culture where an individual is responsible for the individual next to them, regardless of position," said Colonel Kaighen. "It's just an awesome characteristic of it. I'm excited about it because I love taking care of Airmen. It's what I get up for every morning, and when we have an initiative already in place that enables us to better take care of Airmen, that's just the perfect world right there."
2nd Lt. Charles Morton, 437 LRS logistics readiness officer, said he experienced a small example of the VPP's potential after the briefing concluded when he left a crate of books by a doorway, inadvertently presenting a tripping hazard.
"A technical sergeant walked in and he said, 'Lieutenant, I nearly tripped over your box of books here. How about VPP?'"
The lieutenant said he was impressed by his fellow Airman's confidence in applying VPP concepts which were briefed just a few hours prior.
The VPP implementation has gone hand in hand with a creative atmosphere, said Colonel Kaighen. Thinking outside the box, he said, is sometimes a must-have component in safety.
In keeping with the commander's outlook, 437 LRS Airmen said Maj. Samuel Payne, 437 LRS operations officer, envisioned a special send off to immediately put the concepts of the new safety program into practice, in addition to the Sept. 3 wing-level safety send off for the Labor Day holiday weekend.
Airmen from various work sections in the 437 LRS volunteered to present peer-led skits and briefings at the commander's call, using humor to highlight several different safety themes for the holiday weekend. Themes included subjects such as home, road, and weapons safety. Also, included were vehicle and passenger safety.
The two-fold purpose of the peer-led safety send off was to introduce information in a fashion that captured the attention of the Airmen attending and to demonstrate the effectiveness of empowering individuals to take ownership of their own safety.
The most recently scheduled safety event was a half down-day Sept. 10. The squadron set up safety stations around the squadron building, and rotated groups of Airmen through each to learn useful and applicable ways to take a stand for solid safety practices in their daily lives.
"We are all leaders at different capacities. I think this is the nature of our Air Force," said Colonel Kaighen. "It takes an empowered individual with leadership skills, forethought, and the consciousness of what is right and wrong in order to be able to do that independently.
"We have always created a situation where Airmen take care of Airmen. VPP is just another step in the same and right direction to do that. That's why I say it fits so well with us in the Air Force. I think Airmen are leaders, and I think we should be able to integrate VPP into our lives easily just on that foundation alone."