Robins team visits neighbor to learn about Voluntary Protection Plan Published Feb. 2, 2007 By Damian Housman Warner Robins Air Logistics Center Public Affairs ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- A team of Robins Voluntary Protection Plan (VPP) representatives traveled to the Robins mentor site in late January to learn how the Department of Energy Washington Savannah River Site achieved VPP Star Site status after years of concentrated effort on safety and health issues. The 14-member Robins team, drawn from throughout the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center and the base, took a close look at the Aiken, S.C., site, with an eye on borrowing the best ideas for adoption here. Team members examined contracting, construction, the fire department, training, human relations and public affairs. Savannah River began its journey toward VPP in 1994, and was awarded VPP Star Site status after six years. The team was impressed by what they found. Glenda Calhoun, safety manager with the 330th Aircraft Sustainment Wing at Robins, said that everyone at Savannah River is involved in safety at all levels. "It's not just safety people, involvement includes contractors and subcontractors," said Ms. Calhoun. "Everyone has a role to play in VPP, and checklists are used extensively. They've had 19.1 million hours in the construction area without a lost time accident." Larry Stinson, a painter in the 402nd Maintenance Wing F-15 paint shop, was impressed with the involvement of the employees at Savannah River. "Nothing is done there without being reminded of safety," he said. "Everything is observed and recorded, but it was a completely positive program; nothing was negative," he said. "It was employee to employee, with workers watching out for other workers." Alfred Daniely, an electronics technician and AFGE steward in the 402nd Maintenance Wing, noted the program at the site flowed from the bottom up, not the top down. It also had strong management support. "Some in management didn't see the value of VPP until they saw their workers getting excited about it," Mr. Daniely said. "The workers practice it and believe in it." One of the most interesting ideas learned by the Robins team is something called "behavior based safety." According to Bill Liepprandt, a contractor with the ALC's Plans and Programs Directorate and point of contact for the Robins VPP program, Savannah River saw a 60 percent reduction in injuries since implementing VPP, but a 98 percent reduction in unsafe worker behavior since implementing behavior-based safety. "Behavior-based safety helped greatly with employee involvement," Mr. Liepprandt said. "You will not be recognized as a VPP site without employee involvement, and observation under BBS greatly helps. He added that the impact of Savannah River's VPP efforts on the environment has been terrific. The site is as committed to the environment as they are to safety and health management. The Robins group was shown examples of healthy flora and fauna, including lizards, alligators and snakes. Mr. Liepprandt said he hopes for a similar impact at Robins. Team members making the trip included workers, management, four union stewards and the president of the local chapter of the International Association of Fire Fighters. Future site visits will concentrate on learning how to implement VPP in specific areas here.