OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma –
The Defense Logistics Agency Distribution Oklahoma City, Okla., Voluntary Protection Program Coordination Team has been named Team of the Quarter for the third quarter of fiscal year 2015 for their outstanding safety and VPP support to all of DLA Distribution Oklahoma City.
The decision was made to consolidate the VPP coordination team into one office to enhance coordination, guidance and direction of VPP efforts for over 970 DLA personnel assigned to five different activities at Tinker Air Force Base and dispersed throughout about 80 facilities. A monthly VPP stand-down day was established to increase employee involvement.
Approximately 11,000 hours were spent educating DLA Distribution employees on the purpose and benefits of VPP. Personnel were also trained on safety lessons learned and applicable trends. Additionally, inspections were conducted to identify potential hazards and housekeeping was performed to promote a healthy work environment.
Using the Enterprise Safety Application Management System, the team skillfully was able to track the safety of 80 work centers during the quarter, as well as close our 39 ESAMS hazard notices which enhanced safety. Thirteen risk assessment hazard notices were closed out in an average of 45 days, well before the usual time of 90 days.
The team embraced VPP by conducting safety reenactments. During the quarter, the team was advised of zero findings during a two-day, no-notice inspection by the Labor Department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
“The OSHA inspectors interviewed a few dozen managers and employees, and inspected several industrial areas without a single citation or violation,” said DLA Distribution Oklahoma City director Ned LaViolette.
While the Bureau of Labor Statistics standard Total Case Incident Rate is 5.5 percent, the team directly contributed to a TCIR of 1.84 percent. Their Days Away Restricted Transferee rate was 1.84 percent, which is also below the BLS standard of 3.8 percent.
“The Voluntary Protection Program Coordination Team here at DLA Distribution Oklahoma City has enhanced the safety and well-being of over 970 DLA personnel,” explained LaViolette.
The VPP Coordination team included Elizabeth Cole, Billy Evans, Neil McBride, Douglas Moore, Shane Gunnoe, Charles Luhiau, David Brownlee, Lynda Diskell, Terry Day, Augustus mays, Lindsay Brock and Daniel Best.