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Partnership Name


U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), U.S. Department of the Air Force (USAF)
 
Purpose of Partnership


To address civilian employee safety and health, reduce injuries and illnesses and expand the Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) to all USAF installations.
Goal of Partnership
Goal Strategy Measure
Reduce civilian and military workforce injuries and illnesses at each participating installation by 3% per year, consistent with SHARE goals Identify top I/I causal factors; develop protocols to address/abate hazards; and develop a system for near miss tracking
  • Changes in TCIR
  • Changes in DART Rates
  • Number of near misses reported
Expand participation in VPP Complete baseline assessment for each installation, conduct employee awareness surveys, expand and improve tools to promote safety and health and share best practices, increase training events, facilitate use of mentors and SGEs Number or percent of sites moving through OSHA Challenge; level of awareness of employees; best practices; percent of monthly safety meetings conducted and percent workforce participating; number/percent sites using mentors/SGEs; number/percent sites that achieve VPP
Provide mechanism for promoting contractor safety and health Provide guidance to contractors to improve their safety and health performance, require contract work statements to address safety and health requirements and training as appropriate, track contractor safety and health performance Percent of new, renewed, or completed contractor agreements modified to include specific safety and health requirements; for applicable contractors as defined in the CSP, monitor safety and health performance via submitted injury and illness data.
Anticipated Outcomes
As VPP begins to take hold at USAF installations and the culture shifts to more workers involved in the safety and health management systems (SHMS), increased reporting of both near-misses and mishaps are anticipated. Locally, a decrease in reportable injuries and illnesses should be seen which will be moderated by installations not in VPP, but will eventually impact USAF-wide injury rates. Finally, the culture change initiated through the implementation of VPP will naturally spill over to positively impact off-duty activities with an anticipated reduction in off-duty injury and illness rates.
 
Strategic Management Plan Target Areas (check one)
Construction   Amputations in Manufacturing  
General Industry ✓    
Strategic Management Plan Areas of Emphasis (check all applicable)
Amputations in Construction   Oil and Gas Field Services  
Blast Furnaces and Basic Steel Products   Preserve Fruits and Vegetables  
Blood Lead Levels   Public Warehousing and Storage  
Concrete, Gypsum and Plaster Products   Ship/Boat Building and Repair  
Ergo/Musculoskeletal   Silica-Related Disease  
Landscaping/Horticultural Services      


Section 1 - General Partnership Information
 
Date of Evaluation Report July 2010
Evaluation Period:
Start Date 1 October 2008 End Date December 31, 2009
     Note: Data includes 2009 calendar year data.
 
Evaluation OSHA Contact Person Diane Price – Project Lead
Originating Office OSHA’s National Office, Washington DC
 
Partnership Coverage
# Active Employers 1 # Active Employees Impacted 160,000
See Appendix A for listing of USAF installations  


Section 2 - Activities Performed
 
Note whether an activity was provided for by the OSP and whether it was performed
Required Performed
a. Training Yes Yes
b. Consultation Visits No No
c. Safety and Health Management Systems Reviewed/Developed Yes Yes
d. Technical Assistance No Yes
e. VPP-Focused Activities Yes Yes
f. OSHA Enforcement Inspection No Yes
g. Offsite Verifications Yes No
h. Onsite Non-Enforcement Interactions No Yes
i. Participant Self-Inspections No Yes
j. Other Activities    
 
2a. Training (if performed, provide the following totals)
Training session conducted by OSHA staff 0
Training session conducted by non-OSHA staff 10
Employees trained 240
Training hours provided to employees 4,560
Supervisors/managers trained *
Training hours provided to supervisors/managers *
Comments/Explanations (briefly describe activities, or explain if activity provided for but not performed)
Provided 10 training courses:

6 - Implementation & Sustainment Courses - 180 total persons trained - 20 hours per course: This course trains USAF members on how to utilize the VPP criteria to improve their occupational safety and health processes.

4 - Assessor Courses - 60 total persons trained - 16 hours per course : This course mirrors the OSHA SGE course and trains USAF members to effectively assess occupational safety and health processes using the VPP criteria.

These courses have direct benefit to the USAF as they allow for the leveraging of resources making the USAF less dependent on OSHA expertise for routine safety and health activities.

* Supervisors/managers not specifically broken out. All first-time supervisors are required to take the USAF Supervisor Safety Training Course.
 
 
2b. Consultation Visits (if performed, provide the following total)
Consultation visits to partner sites N/A
Comments/Explanations (briefly describe activities, or explain if activity provided for but not performed)




 
 
2c. Safety and Health Management Systems (if performed, provide the following total)
Systems implemented or improved using the OSHA’s 1989 Safety and Health Program Management Guidelines as a model 8
Comments/Explanations (briefly describe activities, or explain if activity provided for but not performed)
The OSP was signed in August 2007. At that time, there were 20 USAF participating installations. The OSP allows additional installations to be added or deleted from participation without modification to the agreement. As of July, 2009 there are 41 installations in the process of applying for VPP.

To assist the Army and other services within the DoD to expand VPP participation, the Defense Safety Oversight Council established the DoD VPP Center of Excellence (DoD VPP-CX). The DoD VPP-CX supports Army installations/sites participating in the OSP in achieving and maintaining VPP recognition by providing on-site and remote assistance and delivering training on VPP and safety and health technical issues. Reported by the VPP-CX, the following is a summary of their progress towards completing the VPPCX Challenge tool: six installations are 85% complete; two installations are 50% complete; four installations are 40% complete; and the remaining 29 are between 20% and 30% complete.

During this evaluation period, an additional six USAF installations completed the implementation of their safety and health management system (SHMS) to a level that qualified them, when approved, for VPP Star. A review of their SHMS was conducted as part of the VPP evaluation. These installations are listed in Section 2e of this evaluation document.

The following best practices were identified by the VPPCX at the six USAF VPP Star installations:
  1. The 88th AFB Wright Patterson’s use of written safety programs and the assignment of Safety Officers to each operational unit have been used to address all types of safety, including air, ground and nuclear. This historically comprehensive approach has been used since the beginning of the USAF’s safety and health management systems.
  2. 402 Software Maintenance Group personnel with medical alerts have a designation on their identification badge. Jewelry, such as medical alert bracelets, is prohibited in some shop areas, and the badge designation aids emergency responders.
  3. The incident investigation report section of the 115th Fighter Wing’s Air Force Safety Automated System (AFSAS) contained an excellent algorithm for assessing root cause.
  4. The Commander of the Aeronautical Systems Center, Command Center has a team that has the responsibility for keeping safety awareness high and recognizing worker participation. Recognition is focused on participation, rather than results.
  5. The Hanscom AFB Hazard/Near Miss Reporting Tool was developed from a continuous process improvement initiative to enhance Hansom’s hazard reporting process. The tool provides a user friendly, web-based interface allowing any worker with computer access to report workplace hazards or safety concerns.
  6. David Grant Medical Center had excellent industrial hygiene records.
  7. Wright Patterson Medical Center, 88th Medical Group uses the “Good Catch Program” to reward workers for identifying hazards and near-misses. This information is used in a non-attribution way to apply root cause analysis to accidents and near-misses, and to share lessons learned through the Organizational Improvement Office (OIO).
  8. 148th Fighter Wing Duluth was found to have effective communication between union and management through ESOH (Environmental, Safety, and Occupational Health) Committee and partnership meetings.
The USAF published a guidance document for VPP called a Concept of Operations Document (CONOPS) which is embedded below. This is a policy and guidance document for the Major Commands (responsible for multiple installations) as well as each USAF installation participating in the OSP. The CONOPS was signed by the highest ranking military member in the USAF (The Chief of Staff of the Air Force).

To reinforce the guidance in CONOPS, a memorandum signed by Kevin Billings, then Acting Asst Secretary of the USAF was issued to all installation Commanders. This memorandum, (see Appendix C) strongly encourages the commanders to embrace VPP as an industry proven means to make the USAF safer and to reduce injuries and illnesses.

Additionally, the USAF developed and implemented a contractor policy document (also embedded below) that was distributed to all installation commanders. The USAF policy establishes safety and health requirements and provides guidance and practical techniques for contractors coming onto USAF installations participating in the OSP. In addition, USAF provided contracting officers with the CONOPS, which outlines practical techniques to integrate contracting requirements into installation VPP efforts. The USAF continues to update this manual as needed to improve its contractor policies.
 
2d. Technical Assistance (if performed, note type and by whom)
Provided by OSHA Staff Provided by Partners Provided by Other Party
Conference/Seminar Participation No Yes No
Interpretation/Explanation of Standards or OSHA Policy Yes No No
Abatement Assistance No No No
Speeches No No No
Other (specify)
Comments/Explanations (briefly describe activities, or explain if activity provided for but not performed)
Representatives from the USAF participated in the DoD meetings and workshops presented at the 25th Annual National VPP Participants’ Association (VPPPA) Conference in San Antonio, Texas in August 2009. During this conference OSHA provided interpretations of OSHA safety and health standards and discussed how standards can be applied when assessing injury and illness accidents. Also, a lengthy discussion was held between the partners regarding safety and health requirements for the use of non-prescription and prescription medications.

2e. VPP-Focused Activities (if performed, provide the following total)
Partners/participants actively seeking VPP participation 41
Applications submitted 6
VPP participants 6
Comments/Explanations (briefly describe activities, or explain if activity provided for but not performed)
Six USAF installations submitted applications for VPP in 2009, were approved for participation during this evaluation period and are listed below. See exec summary language
  • 88 Medical Group, Wright Patterson AFB OH: Approved November 7, 2008
  • Hanscom Air Force Base/Electronics Systems Center, Hanscom AFB MA: Approved August 3, 2009
  • 115 Fighter Wing, Madison WI: Approved September 18, 2009
  • 402 Software Maintenance Group, Robins AFB GA: Approved September 18, 2009
Two additional sites submitted their application during the evaluation period but received their VPP approval just subsequent to the evaluation period. The information for these sites has been added to this evaluation as the data supplied by the USAF included the results for these two sites
  • David Grant Medical Center, Travis AFB CA: Approved January 6, 2010/
  • Aeronautical Systems Center, Headquarters Element, Wright Patterson AFB OH: Approved November 12, 2009
In accordance with the OSP, these six USAF installations have achieved VPP status, they will be removed from the OSP in 2010.
 
2f. OSHA Enforcement Activity (if performed, provide the following totals for any programmed, unprogrammed, and verification-related inspections)
OSHA enforcement inspections conducted 22
OSHA enforcement inspections in compliance 0
OSHA enforcement inspection with violations cited 22
Average number of citations classified as Serious, Repeat, and Willful (per inspections) 1.5
Comments/Explanations (briefly describe activities, or explain if activity provided for but not performed)
The 22 enforcement inspections were conducted at USAF OSP participating installations. These inspections resulted in the issuance of 48 citations. Of the 48 citations, 32 were classified as Serious, Repeat, and Willful. An additional 16 violations were classified as Other Than Serious. The average number S/W/R citations per inspection at USAF facilities were 1.5.
 
2g. Offsite Verification (if performed, provide the following total) 1.5
Offsite verifications performed N/A
Comments/Explanations (briefly describe activities, or explain if activity provided for but not performed)




 

2h. Onsite Non-Enforcement Verification (if performed, provide the following total)
Onsite non-enforcement verifications performed 5
Comments/Explanations (briefly describe activities, or explain if activity provided for but not performed)
Although not defined by the OSP as onsite non-enforcement verifications, onsite VPP evaluations include site walkthroughs, document reviews, and employee interviews which mirror many of the same elements conducted during onsite verifications.

Five of the six installations listed in Section 2a of this evaluation received their onsite VPP audit during this time.
 
2i. Participant Self-Inspections (if performed, provide the following total)
Self-inspections performed Yes
Hazards and/or violations identified and corrected/abated N/A
Comments/Explanations (briefly describe activities, or explain if activity provided for but not performed)
All installations are required by a USAF directive to perform monthly facility inspections and an annual overall assessment. Additionally, the USAF Safety Center performed 18 USAF Inspection Agency evaluations at major commands and direct reporting units. The USAF also executed 21 VPP-specific engagement and assessment visits.

Although the specific numbers of hazards identified/corrected during the self audits are not tracked above the installation level. The USAF reported that with the assistance of the VPP-CX, the installations develop plans for addressing system deficiencies. The VPP-CX also assists the installations by providing technical information related to hazards identified.

2j. Other Activities (briefly describe other activities performed)




N/A


Section 3 - Illness and Injury Information
 
Comments
The USAF has shown some progress in decreasing their occupational injury and illness rates and experiences. USAF provided OSHA with injury and illness data for the six VPP installations covered in this evaluation. In addition, USAF provided OSHA with some additional information based on data from the VPP-CX E-Tool. The chart below is indicative of a decrease in injury and illness rate for the six VPP OSP installations. See Appendix B for details. (These rates do not reflect injury and illness rates for active duty personnel.)
 
Site Name 3-yr TCIR TCIR BLS Avg Percent Below BLS Industry Average 3-yr DART DART BLS Avg Percent Below BLS Industry Average
88th Medical Group, Wright Patterson, AFB, OH (2006-2008)

2.5
 		 (2007)

7.7		 (2007)

67%		 (2006-2008)

1.6		 (2007)

3.0		 (2007)

47%
115th Fighter Wing, Madison, WS (2006-2008)

2.6
(2007)

6.2		 (2007)

58%		 (2006-2008)

0.5		 (2007)

4.3		 (2007)

88%
402nd Software Maintenance Group, Robins AFB, GA (2006-2008)

0.3		 (2006)

0.7		 (2006)

57%		 (2006-2008)

0.2
(2006)

0.3		 (2006)

33%
Aeronautical Systems Center, Wright Patterson, AFB OH (2006-2008)

1.2		 (2006)

2.1		 (2006)

65%		 (2006-2008)

.58		 (2006)

1.1		 (2006)

68%
David Grant Medical Center, Travis AFB, CA (2006-2008)

1.1		 (2008)

7.6		 (2008)

86%		 (2006-2008)

0.7
(2008)

2.9		 (2008)

76%
Hanscom Air Force Base, Hanscom AFB, MA (2006-2008)

1.3		 (2007)

6.2		 (2007)

80%		 (2006-2008)

0.2		 (2007)

2.6		 (2007)

92%

The average percent below the BLS industry average for the six VPP sites listed above is TCIR 69% and DART 68%. These VPP participants range from 57% to 86% below the National averages for TCIR and 33% to 92% below for DART rates as reported by the participants.
 

Section 4 - Partnership Plans, Benefits, and Recommendations
 
Changes and Challenges (check all applicable)
  Changes Challenges
Management Structure ✓  
Participants    
Data Collection ✓ ✓
Employee Involvement   ✓
OSHA Enforcement Inspection    
Partnership Outreach    
Training    
Other (Specify)    
Comments




 
 
Plans to Improve (check all applicable)
  Improvements N/A
Meet more often    
Improve data collection
Conduct more training    
Change goals    
Comments




 
 
Partnership Benefits (check all applicable)
Increased safety and health awareness ✓
Improved relationship with OSHA ✓
Improved relationship with employers
Improved relationship with employees or unions
Increased number of participants ✓
Other (specify) ✓
Comments
Since entering the OSP agreement on August 25, 2008, the USAF has worked together with OSHA and the VPP-CX and has accomplished activities including enhancements to its installations’ SHMS and the approval of 8 USAF installations in OSHA’s VPP. In addition, the OSP allows the USAF to provide common information on the USAF installations in VPP to OSHA’s National Office and all of the OSHA Regional Offices; there are participating USAF installations in every OSHA region.

Further, through the OSP, the USAF reports it has been successful in achieving the culture shift to the implementation of a more worker directed safety and health management system. Although the USAF reports more workers have become aware of potential job hazards, there has not been an increase in the reporting of near-misses at participating installations.
 
Status Recommendations (check one)
Partnership Completed  
Continue/Renew  
Continue with the following provisions: ✓
While the OSP requires the USAF to submit data for all OSP participating installations, USAF only provided data for the six installations which attained VPP status during this reporting period. As a result, the agency’s ability to evaluate the overall impact of the OSP at the USAF OSP participating installations is limited. During the final year of the OSP, OSHA and USAF will continue to work together to address safety and health improvements at participating installations. In addition, OSHA and USAF will work together to develop a system to facilitate the transmission of required OSP data so that the impact of the OSP may be fully evaluated.
Terminate (provide explanation)

 		  
   


APPENDIX A
 
OSHA Regions Participating Installations/sites Initial Sites Selected to Participate in OSP Sites Selected after Signing of OSP Sites achieved VPP Status
I Hanscom AFB, MA X    
I Electric Systems Center, Hanscom AFB, MA   X X
II AF Research Lab – Rome, NY   X  
II McGuire AFB, NJ X    
III Dover AFB, DE   X  
IV Charleston AFB, SC   X  
IV Columbus AFB, MS   X  
IV Eglin AFB, FL X    
IV Hurlburt Field, FL X    
IV MacDill AFB, FL   X  
IV Pope AFB, NC   X  
IV Robins AFB, GA X   X
IV 402 Software Maintenance Group, Robins AFB, GA   X  
IV Seymour Johnson AFB, SC   X  
IV Shaw AFB, SC   X X
V Scott AFB, IL   X X
V 88 Medical Group, Wright Patterson AFB, OH   X  
V Aeronautical Systems Center, Headquarters Element, Wright Patterson AFB, OH   X  
V AF Research Lab, Wright Patterson AFB, OH   X X
V Wright Patterson, AFB, OH X    
V 115 Fighter Wing, Madison, WI   X  
VI Altus AFB, OK X    
VI Canon AFB, NM   X  
VI Dyess AFB, TX   X  
VI Goodfellow AFB, TX   X  
VI Holloman AFB, NM X    
VI Kirtland AFB, NM X    
VI AF Research Lab – Kirtland AFB, NM   X  
VI Laughlin AFB, TX   X  
VI Little Rock AFB, AR   X  
VI Sheppard AFB, TX   X  
VI Tinker AFB, OK X    
VI Vance AFB, OK   X  
VII McConnell AFB, KS   X  
VII Whiteman AFB, MO X    
VIII Buckley AFB, CO X    
VIII Grand Forks AFB, ND   X  
VIII Hill AFB, UT X    
VIII Malmstrom AFB, MT   X  
IX David Grant Medical Center, Travis AFB, CA X    
IX Edwards AFB, CA X    
IX Hickam AFB, HI   X  
IX Los Angeles AFB X    
IX Travis AFB, CA X    
IX Vandenberg AFB, CA   X  
X Eielson AFB, AK X    
X Elmendorf AFB, AK X    
X Fairchild AFB, WA   X  
X Mt Home AFB, ID   X  

The above installation NAICS codes are as follows: 481112 for scheduled freight air transportation; 48819 for other support activities for air transportation; 551114 for corporate subsidiary and regional managing offices; 56121 for facilities support services; 62211 for general medical and surgical hospitals; 92811 for national security.

APPENDIX B
 
1 Year Partner TCIR BLS TCIR Partner DART BLS DART Partner TCIR % above/below BLS Avg for Same Yr Partner DART % above/below BLS Avg for Same Yr
88th Medical Group, Wright Patterson, AFB, OH (NAICS 622110) 2006 3.50 8.10 1.60 3.20 -56.79% -50.00%
2007 2.70 7.70 2.00 3.00 -64.94% -33.33%
2008* 1.40 7.60 1.20 2.90 -81.58% -58.62%
3-year Average 2.5 7.8 1.6 3.0 -67.52% -47.25%
Avg +/- over 3 years -36.8% -3.1% -13.4% -4.8%    
2 Year Partner TCIR BLS TCIR Partner DART BLS DART Partner TCIR % above/below BLS Avg for Same Yr Partner DART % above/below BLS Avg for Same Yr
115th Fighter Wing, Madison, WI (NAICS 488190) 2006 2.40 6.20 0.00 3.70 -61.29% -100.00%
2007 3.30 6.20 1.00 4.30 -46.77% -76.74%
2008* 2.00 4.70 0.50 2.90 -57.45% -82.76%
3-year Average 2.6 5.7 0.5 3.6 -54.97% -86.24%
Avg +/- over 3 years -8.7% -12.9% ** -11.5%
3 Year Partner TCIR BLS TCIR Partner DART BLS DART Partner TCIR % above/below BLS Avg for Same Yr Partner DART % above/below BLS Avg for Same Yr
402nd Software Maintenance Group, Robins AFB, GA (NAICS 541511) 2006 0.30 0.70 0.20 0.30 -57.14% -33.33%
2007 0.40 0.50 0.40 0.10 -20.00% 300.00%
2008 0.30 0.30 0.10 0.10 0.00% 0.00%
3-year Average 0.333 0.500 0.233 0.167 -33.33% 40.00%
Avg +/- over 3 years 0.0%* -34.5% -29.3% -42.3%    
4 Year Partner TCIR BLS TCIR Partner DART BLS DART Partner TCIR % above/below BLS Avg for Same Yr Partner DART % above/below BLS Avg for Same Yr
 Aeronautical Systems Center, Wright Patterson, AFB, OH (NAICS 551114) 2006 0.00 2.10 0.00 1.10 -100.00% -100.00%
2007 1.74 1.90 0.00 0.90 -8.42% -100.00%
2008* 1.74 1.60 1.74 0.70 8.75% 148.57%
3-year Average 1.2 1.9 0.6 0.9 -37.86% -35.56%
Avg +/- over 3 years 0.0%* -12.7% 0.0%* -20.2%    
5 Year Partner TCIR BLS TCIR Partner DART BLS DART Partner TCIR % above/below BLS Avg for Same Yr Partner DART % above/below BLS Avg for Same Yr
David Grant Medical Center Travis AFB, CA (NAICS 622110) 2006 0.70 8.10 0.70 3.20 -91.36% -78.13%
2007 0.70 7.70 0.70 3.00 -90.91% -76.67%
2008* 1.80 7.60 0.70 2.90 -76.32% -75.86%
3-year Average 1.1 7.8 0.7 3.0 -86.32% -76.92%
Avg +/- over 3 years 60.4% -3.1% 0.0% -4.8%
6 Year Partner TCIR BLS TCIR Partner DART BLS DART Partner TCIR % above/below BLS Avg for Same Yr Partner DART % above/below BLS Avg for Same Yr
Hanscom Air Force Base, Hanscom AFB, MA (NAICS 561210) 2006 1.3 5.90 0.10 3.00 -77.97% -96.67%
2007 1.50 6.20 0.00 2.60 -75.81% -100.00%
2008* 1.00 4.30 0.50 1.80 -76.74% -72.22%
3-year Average 1.3 5.5 0.2 2.5 -76.86% -91.89%
Avg +/- over 3 years -12.3% -14.6% 0.0%* -22.5%    
ALL Year Partners Avg TCIR BLS Avg TCIR* Partners Avg DART BLS Avg DART* Partner TCIR % above/below BLS Avg for Same Yr Partner DART % above/below BLS Avg for Same Yr
Injury and Illness Averages for 6 of 8 VPP sites with reported data 2006 1.37 5.18 0.43 2.42 -73.63% -82.07%
2007 1.72 5.03 0.68 2.32 -65.76% -70.50%
2008* 1.37 4.35 0.79 1.88 -68.43% -58.05%
3-year Average 1.5 4.9 0.6 2.2 -69.36% -71.18%
Avg +/- over 3 years 0.2% -8.4% 35.0% -11.7%


APPENDIX C

The document below is a USAF memorandum to all USAF Commands providing guidance to installations and contractors on appropriate means for driving down on and off duty injury rates. This guidance incorporates active worker involvement by all parties.

 
Department of Defense DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE
            WASHINGTON DC


MEMORANDUM FOR ALMAJCOM/DRU/FOA/CC

SUBJECT: Voluntary Protection Program Implementation and Contracting Activities

The AF has focused on reducing its illness and injury rates by incorporating the proven industry model of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) into our already robust Air Force Occupational Safety and Health (AFOSH) program and wingman culture. VPP is a recognition program that requires active employee participation by all parties. To date, over 60 sites across the Air Force have initiated VPP and two locations, the 148th FW and the 88th ABW, have been recognized by OSHA as a Star Site, effectively meeting all VPP criteria.

Two elements of VPP represent the greatest potential for driving down our on- and off- duty injury rates. The first is active personnel involvement in all elements of safety and health; an "Airmen-owned" safety program is the goal with all civilians, Airmen and contractors taking an active role. Your installation safety and occupational health professionals are your technical guides, and your installation/wing leadership, first line supervisors, and union leaders are responsible for the overall implementation of VPP. The second key VPP element is contractor oversight. This does not mean our safety and health professionals will be executing our contractors' safety and health programs, but rather that we will now include safety and health performance as expected criteria for overall contractor performance.

Installations implementing VPP (see attachment 1, Air Force VPP Implementation Schedule) must develop a strategy for the phased inclusion of applicable contractors (i.e. contractors whose work force/employees have worked at least 1,000 hours on an installation in any calendar quarter within the previous 12 months and are not directly supervised by the installation.) IAW the installation's VPP strategy, any Air Force organization seeking to award a contract to an applicable contractor should include the attached VPP Elements for Requirements Documents (Atch 2) whenever applicable. There is no expectation that VPP requirements will be incorporated by amendment or modification into existing contracts; however, these requirements should be included in any applicable new or subsequent contracts. Additionally, any installation/organization implementing VPP should work with the contracting office to notify contractors of its intent to implement VPP. I am confident that many of our existing contract partners will recognize VPP as an opportunity to improve the safety and welfare of their employees and will willingly join with the AF to realize this goal. SAF/AQ has developed and will soon distribute a Contracting VPP Guide to assist the base contracting office in the installation VPP implementation.

Each of us has a responsibility to serve as a wingman for each other. As the Air Force's Designated Agency Safety and Health Official (DASHO), the health and safety of our total force -Airmen, civilians and contractors- is critically important to me and to mission success. My time in the private sector taught me that you can efficiently carry out hazardous jobs safely; injuries should not be a cost of doing business. As a means to that end, I strongly encourage commanders to embrace VPP as an industry proven means to make our Air Force safer and to reduce injuries and illnesses both on and off duty.

My POC for VPP Implementation is Mr. Vance Lineberger, 703-693-7706, Vance.Lineberger@pentagon.af.mil.


 
  Kevin W. Billings
Acting Assistant Secretary
(Installations, Environment, & Logistics)


2 Attachments:
1. Air Force VPP Implementation Schedule
2. VPP Elements for Requirements Documents


cc: SAF/US/AQ/FM/IE/MR/XC
AF/CV/CVA
AF/A1/A2/A3/5A4/7/A8/A9/SE/SG
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