TOBYHANNA ARMY DEPOT, Pa. -- Depot and tenant organization safety programs here recently competed for the 2015 Safety Area of the Year Awards.
Three directorates and one tenant agency were recognized for their contributions to Tobyhanna's safety mission.
The Electro-Mechanical Fabrication Branch claimed the Heavy Industrial Area; the Field Logistics Support Division's Central Reset Section in Fort Hood, Texas, earned first place in the Medium/Light Industrial Area; the Mission Analysis Division took top honors in the Administrative Area, and the Defense Logistics Agency's Packing, Warehouse and Small Parcels Section walked away with the Tenant Activity Award.
The annual awards acknowledge cost centers that have outstanding safety programs and individuals whose performances have best supported the depot's safety mission. Each of the four safety programs boast similar attributes, while facing the challenges specific to their operations.
Daily inspections of the work area were mentioned in all of the nomination packages. The same goes for seeking out and reporting hazards using well established methods. Each organization also uses regular meetings to keep personnel informed, reinforcing the depot's objective of safety first.
Employees in the Defense Logistics Agency's Packing, Warehouse and Small Parcels Section are always taking the initiative with safety concerns, according to Arlene Slinger, safety specialist for the tenant unit. She pointed out that their continued vigilance revealed potential trip hazards caused by uneven floors, a pinch hazard caused by a fire door closing too fast and portable eye wash stations that did not work properly.
No injuries, missed work or lost time have been reported in more than a year. The unit's 15 employees have maintained a safe working environment in two buildings.
"Not only did employees notify the safety office, they took it upon themselves to make others aware via organizational meetings or marking the area," Slinger said.
Steavon Allen, area supervisor is proactive with all safety requests and inspections.
"I personally correct any deficiencies on the spot or make the necessary arrangements to have the deficiency corrected in a timely manner." Allen said.
Safety is a mandatory agenda item in the Mission Analysis Division home team meetings.
Division Chief Cindy Dorosky pointed out that management recognizes and promotes a safe work environment by performing a walk-around in the office, ensuring all employees understand what working safely means and emphasizing the best way to teach safety awareness is through practice.
Personnel use proper lifting techniques, close cabinet drawers when not in use, eliminate trip hazards and arrange work stations to be ergonomically correct.
"We avoid injuries by staying alert," Dorosky said, adding that hazards are prevented by following guidance available in a number of publications. "As a team we strive to set an example on how an administrative office area should operate a safety program."
Along with practicing safety in the workplace, Mission Analysis employees promote and teach safety outside the depot. Several people volunteer as coaches performing water rescues, and teaching firearms safety, hunter education and boating safety courses.
Branch Chief Joe Lagana heads the Electro-Mechanical Fabrication Branch, keeping a close eye on potential causes of injury specific to the organization's heavy industrial line of work.
Every day, Lagana stresses the importance of using personal protective equipment (PPE) when working in the shop, especially around high voltage and battery acid. Whenever high voltage is used to test assets, employees work in two-man teams to monitor the equipment and watch out for each other. Extra precautions are necessary when it comes to building batteries. Entry to the isolated area is granted only to select employees with specialized training.
"The cost center holds the record of 10 years without an injury," Lagana said, adding that the employees intend to break the long-standing record with a goal of 15 injury-free years. "The employees watch out for each other and correct themselves or others to ensure the safety of everyone who enters the shop."
Last year, the Central Reset Section conducted a safety situational awareness campaign reminding all employees of the importance of health and safety in the work place. The campaign, called Stop-Think-Act-Review, encourages employees to take a second or two to prepare for a work task and share any lessons learned once the task was complete.
"Employees and supervisors are accountable on individual health and safety responsibilities," said Jose Abrams, Central Branch safety chief. "To show their commitment to the plan, each team member signed a pledge stating they would comply with all safety and health regulations."
The supervisor and leaders ensure equipment is calibrated, daily checks are performed on equipment and vehicles, good housekeeping is maintained and PPE is worn. The section scored well on all internal and external safety and quality audits and saved the government more than $75,000 by turning in product and eliminating waste and space.
Section personnel also strive to improve or correct environmental hazards in the workplace. They ensure all equipment and hazardous materials are within safety standards and stored in the proper manner, minimizing the depot's environmental footprint.
"Work accomplished by several employees certified in Environmental Compliance have streamlined the Reset process and made the operation more efficient," said Abrams, pointing out that it's standard procedure for depot personnel to go the extra mile to maintain a good, sound and effective safety programs and practices in the workplace year around.
Tobyhanna Army Depot is a recognized leader in providing world-class logistics support for C4ISR systems across the Department of Defense. Tobyhanna's Corporate Philosophy, dedicated work force and electronics expertise ensure the depot is the Joint C4ISR provider of choice for all branches of the Armed Forces and industry partners.
Tobyhanna's unparalleled capabilities include full-spectrum logistics support for sustainment, overhaul and repair, fabrication and manufacturing, engineering design and development, systems integration, post production software support, technology insertion, modification, foreign military sales and global field support to our Joint Warfighters.
About 3,100 personnel are employed at Tobyhanna, which is located in the Pocono Mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania. Tobyhanna Army Depot is part of the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command. Headquartered at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, the command's mission is to research, develop, acquire, field and sustain communications, command, control computer, intelligence, electronic warfare and sensors capabilities for the Armed Forces.
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