Xerox mentoring Tinker Air Force base in safety practices

Xerox Corporation’s manufacturing operations in Oklahoma City is helping the Tinker Air Force base qualify for the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Voluntary Protection Programs. 

Participation in VPP is OSHA’s official recognition of companies that have achieved exemplary occupational safety and health. Xerox qualified for the VPP status in 2004. The VPP strives for continued improvement in safety and health management systems through open relationships and processes between management, labor and OSHA.     

Gabriel John, a Xerox safety engineer at the company’s manufacturing facility in Oklahoma City, is spearheading the volunteer program at Tinker.

“The benefit of VPP is that it creates an open culture between employees and management to address safety issues,” said John. “The entire process is open, inclusive and recorded. Everyone contributes to safety solutions without fear of retribution.”

Tinker is one of 10 bases identified by the Department of Defense to begin the VPP application process. Eventually, all military installations will be qualified.

“Safety is not something we take lightly,” said General Loren M. Reno, commander, Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center, Tinker Air Force Base. “VPP is helping us improve our workplace by providing us a set of tools to help us do our job better. This is extremely important because our warfighters depend on us to stay safe on and off the job.” 

“The fundamental objective of this mentorship is to work with Tinker to achieve the VPP qualification,” said Michael Le, plant manager at Xerox’s Oklahoma facility, an OSHA non-paid special government employee and a member of the team that will participate in the mentorship. “The resulting benefit for both our organizations is improved processes and practices that ensure the safety and well being of employees in any setting – on an Air Force base or in a manufacturing facility.”     

Xerox’s Oklahoma facility is the first Xerox location qualified for the VPP. In 2005, the site received Star status, the highest in the program. Xerox is reviewed yearly by OSHA to maintain its status. Today, Xerox has four employees who are OSHA qualified as special government employees, or SGEs. They volunteer to conduct audits and education for organizations wishing to become qualified for the VPP.

Tinker Air Force Base currently houses 26,000 enlisted and civilian employees. The responsibilities of the base include the manufacture, maintenance and management of aircraft used by U.S. armed forces. Units at the Tinker Air Force Base consist of the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center, 72nd Air Base Wing, the 76th Maintenance Wing, the 327th Aircraft Sustainment Wing and the 448th Combat Sustainment Wing.