MARINE CORPS LOGISTICS BASE BARSTOW, Calif. -- Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow officially announced March 29 that it has become the first Marine Corps installation to volunteer for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Voluntary Protection Program, during a kick-off event held at the Oasis Club.
Special guests appearing to congratulate and lend support for this occasion included Mr. BJ Penn, Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Installations and Environment, and Maj. Gen. Michael R. Lehnert, Commanding General of Marine Corps Installations West.
OSHA established VPP to recognize and promote excellence in safety and health by recognizing establishments with outstanding occupational safety and health management systems. Acceptance into VPP is OSHA's official recognition of the outstanding efforts of employers and employees who have created exemplary worksite safety and health management systems that exceed regulatory requirements.
In the VPP, management, labor, and OSHA establish cooperative relationships at workplaces that have implemented a comprehensive safety and health management system.
During his opening comments, Base Commander Col. Steven J. Thompson, revealed that MCLB Barstow initiated the move to VPP many months ago.
"We were looking for a means to improve our safety record, by reducing mishaps and as a means of reducing the steady drains of our Worker's Compensation payouts," he said. "VPP is here to help us help ourselves. Achieving Star status within VPP is the end-state, and we achieve that goal through processes and teamwork."
Penn said that upon his confirmation there were five objectives Secretary of the Navy Donald C. Winter wants to meet for fiscal year 2006 and safety was number four.
"Specifically, his objective is to manage risk, improve mission effectiveness, and to safeguard the people and resources of the Marine Corps/Navy Team," he said. "As I'm sure you are aware, the VPP recognizes worksites that implement effective safety management systems. In addition, these worksites must show continuous improvement in their safety program over time."
Penn revealed that the physical evidence of worksites that implement VPP is impressive. The average VPP worksite had reduced its lost workdays by 52 percent below the industry average. "MCLB Barstow has taken the initiative to create the framework necessary to establish an effective safety management system by creating a VPP steering committee and four sub-committees to manage the Voluntary Protection Program and advise the commanding officer of its effectiveness," he said.
Maj. Gen. Lehnert followed Penn asking the question, "Why are we doing this?"
His answer was simple, because for years from an accounting standpoint the employees were looked at as a liability, not as an asset.
"We're talking about a fundamental culture change here," he said "We're talking about a recognition that our employees, the people that work for our industry, are truly assets; assets to be protected and assets to saved. That's a fundamental change in attitudes."
What each of the guest speakers emphasized and referred to in their own words were the key important elements of the VPP: Management commitment, employee involvement; worksite analysis, hazard prevention and control, and health and safety training.
Andy Salcedo, regional safety engineer and team leader for OSHA's Region 9, based in San Francisco, explained to the audience there are six phases of the VPP process which have to be met to reach Star Status. MCLB Barstow is in Phase I, which is the orientation and assessment phase. The other five include: pre-application and feedback training, application, OSHA on-site visit/inspection, approval, and sustainment.
To make this process work "it will take the efforts of employees at all levels to achieve VPP Star status. Getting actively involved can help prevent mishaps, reduce workplace injuries, promote teamwork, and enhance worker morale," according to a statement from Col. Thompson, in the VPP information package.
Though in the infancy stage, MCLB Barstow is already looking toward the Star but, as Assistant Secretary Penn phrased it, "it will require the efforts of all, from the bottom to the top, and from the top to the bottom," to reach that Star.