Team Vance leaders share VPP vision Published Nov. 11, 2009 By 1st Lt. Agneta Murnan 71st Flying Training Wing Public Affairs VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Colonel Chris Nowland, 71st Flying Training Wing commander, James Duke, CSC Applied Technologies LLC deputy program manager, and Rick Boardman, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local Lodge 898 president, signed a statement of commitment Oct. 27 to the principles of the Voluntary Protection Program at Vance AFB. "We share the vision of being world-class leaders in safety and health, establishing and sustaining this installation as a VPP Star Site. We will partner together to ensure that workers are involved in carrying out activities in a manner that will protect, preserve and nurture our people, facilities, neighbors and the environment," the joint statement read. Both the 71st Flying Training Wing and CSC Applied Technologies LLC as the primary contractor at Vance concluded two separate initial inspection processes in July that totaled 31 work place safety assessments and 28 formal interviews. The Voluntary Protection Program was also included in the collective bargaining agreement between CSC and IAMAW, Local Lodge 898 negotiated this summer. The focus of VPP is to create successful health and safety programs which reduce worker injuries, illness and time lost by promoting active and meaningful employee involvement in safety-improvement initiatives. The 71st Flying Training Wing is currently in the planning stage of a multi-stage VPP implementation process including planning, the execution phase, a mid-course assessment, a major command mock audit, an audit conducted by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration for VPP status certification, and a three year sustainment phase should the base receive star status through inspection and certification by OSHA. The planning phase includes developing both action and communication plans spanning several years.