Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M. -- The Department of Defense Safety and Occupational Health Management System held their ninth annual Achievement Awards ceremony at the Voluntary Protection Programs Participants’ Association National Safety Conference in Aurora, Colorado on August 26, 2024.
The SOHMS awards encourage continuous safety culture improvements and recognize the hard work of Department of Defense installations and individuals in the areas of safety and occupational health management systems implementation and mishap prevention.
We are pleased to announce the 2024 Individual Award Winner:
Reginald Goodrum, Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex at Robins Air Force Base, Department of the Air Force
Goodrum, 402nd Electronics Maintenance Group special government employee, ensures that all team members receive comprehensive training on safety protocols and procedures. The 402nd EMXG’s mission is to provide depot level test, maintenance, repair, and manufacturing capabilities to deliver combat ready avionics parts. Their vision is to provide global avionics excellence through continuous innovation.
“I am passionate about safety and strive to create a safe workplace,” said Goodrum. “Some members don’t feel comfortable talking with supervisors concerning safety issues, but I am proud to be that contact person who they talk with, then I forward these issues to supervisors.”
Goodrum stood out as a leader in safety by introducing a pivotal measure to boost employee involvement in the VPP program. He stressed the significance of acknowledging and valuing their contributions. His approach encouraged VPP participation and led to a notable rise in unit Spirit Awards. The Spirit Awards are peer-to-peer reviewed as a means of instant recognition at any time throughout the year.
VPP is an employee led program, and the only way to be successful is with unit members’ participation. Goodrum’s record speaks to his ability to elevate morale and enhance safety knowledge within the organization.
“As the supervisor of very dedicated safety professionals called the Group Steering Committee, I’m glad to have the trust of my team,” Goodrum said. “I do, however, acknowledge Amy Johnson and Chemeka Gulley for contributing to my success. Amy previously held the same position that I now hold in the Safety Office. Chemeka was my Squadron Director. She gave me the support that I needed while being the 568th Squadron VPP point-of-contact.”
In the 568th Electronics Maintenance Squadron, Goodrum was part of the VPP Team that surpassed objectives by 45%. This impressive expansion underscores the squadron’s dedication to fostering diversity and inclusivity. Members span numerous versatile roles. This remarkable growth serves as a testament to the success and impact of the organization’s VPP program initiatives.
As a special government employee, Goodrum possesses the depth of knowledge necessary to keep leadership informed at the squadron, group, Air Force Sustainment Center, and national levels. He conceptualized the 6S VPP Safety Challenge Game. His objective was to engage squadron-level managers from various positions within the chain of command. The Family Feud™-style challenge is designed for two teams of five contestants each and aimed to make safety education enjoyable and engaging. The first team to reach 15 points wins and earns a one-hour Time Off Award. The challenge was well received as it created a fun learning environment and incentivized participation. The success of the game earned Mr. Goodrum the first-ever individual 402nd EMXG VPP Coin.
Goodrum has also implemented targeted safety initiatives aimed at reducing recordable incidents. By analyzing injury data, identifying root causes, and executing corrective actions, he was able to significantly decrease the number of workplace injuries and illnesses, known as total case incident rate and days away restricted transferred metrics.
Using these TCIR/DART metrics, Goodrum was able to identify an increase in lower back injuries. By analyzing each incident to illuminate the common denominator, it was determined that the lifting practices were not in line with the weight guides established by OSHA. Goodrum established a training requirement, with signed accountability and received permission to order portable lifts to use instead of lifting heavy items manually. Lower back incidents decreased from 6 in 2023 to 2 in 2024, a 66% reduction, after obtaining lifts, enacting training requirement.
Goodrum identified another direct health factor while leading an inspection team to investigate all the eye wash stations that were an Employee Involvement Board item highlighted issues with the stations. The results of the inspection led to the discovery of unclean water being dispensed from the eye wash station due to inactivity. Goodrum took it upon himself to research portable eye wash stations that would alleviate the stagnant water issue, removing the danger of putting contaminated water in a person’s eyes. The discovery of the issue also led to the creation of a new inspection schedule, examining the stations every week instead of every 30 days. By analyzing operations on a regular basis, he was able to establish a monitoring system to track key safety performance indicators and identify areas for improvement.
“I commend each of the installations and individual nominations for their tremendous efforts,” said Laura A. Macaluso, director of Force Safety and Occupational Health. “I encourage these installations, individuals, and others to continue building on their strong foundations and submit to the awards program again next year.”
He was able to proactively address potential safety issues and accomplish corrective actions, which promoted a robust safety culture. His commitment to improvement contributed to the sustained success of the VPP program within the organization.
Goodrum has also attracted attention from other OSHA Star Sites, highlighting his effectiveness in fostering a culture of engagement and adherence to safety guidelines.
Congratulations, Mr. Goodrum! We look forward to next year.