Safety office implements federal program to lessen injuries, rais operational capabilities Published Nov. 10, 2010 By Safety office KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- The 81st Training Wing is implementing a program designed to drive down injury rates and increase operational capabilities. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Voluntary Protection Program is designed to hold management accountable for the safety and health of all workers through education, identifying and eliminating hazards, and actively involving all employees in their own protection. Wing safety officials believe everyone atKeesler, from senior leadership to the newest airman basic, must be involved in the VPP process. All Keesler members will be trained to identify hazards in the workplace and to become part of the solution. The VPP process won't create new wing safety programs. Instead, it focuses on streamlining and enhancing processes Safety office implements federal program to lessen injuries, raise operational capabilities that are already in place. The goal of this program is to get all Team Keesler members to identify hazards and take action immediately, ultimately eliminating safety and work hazards on and off duty. Safety officials expectVPP to lower the overall mishap rate as well as to increase the health and wellness of Keesler's military and civilian work force. All base personnel can be a part of the program by evaluating their home and office for potential safety and health risks. Involvement includes performing self inspections, reporting hazards up the chain of command and implementing a safety training program within each unit. For more information, call 377-2007 or visit OSHA's VPP page, http://www.osha.gov/dcsp/vpp/index.html.