ESOHCAMP checks safety, health compliance on base Published July 1, 2008 By 2nd Lt. Seth Lorimer 21st Civil Engineer Squadron PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- A team of assessors from across the base spent June 16-23 evaluating Peterson's compliance in dozens of environmental, safety and occupational health programs. The team made several findings that Peterson Airmen can help to mitigate. The internal Environmental, Safety and Occupational Health Compliance Assessment Management Program (ESOHCAMP) is meant to identify areas of non-compliance with federal, state and local regulations, and Air Force and Department of Defense standards. The evaluators also looked for positive observations and suggested improvements when necessary. The internal assessment occurs two out of every three years. Every third year Air Force Space Command comes in to do an external assessment. Peterson had its most recent external assessment last year. The internal assessment is required by the Air Force and allows base agencies to determine resource allocation, prevents notices of violation from external regulators and improves general quality of life on base. The assessment ensures the installation is better prepared to withstand a regulatory agency inspection in the areas of the environmental, safety and occupational health programs. This year's evaluation team - made up of volunteers from the 21st Security Forces Squadron, the 21st Communications Squadron, the 21st Civil Engineer Squadron, the Safety Office and Bio Environmental Engineering - discovered several deficiencies across the base. Common findings over the past three assessments included: 1. failure to purchase 50% recycled printer paper and other materials with required preference for green materials 2. storing, labeling and disposing of potentially hazardous materials improperly 3. recycled materials found in waste receptacles 4. issues with personal protective equipment and people not wearing seat belts in their vehicles 5. personnel lacking required environmental training These are issues that occur in multiple different places around the base and affect everyone, and everyone can help to change them. These findings are not just isolated occurrences of noncompliance. Everyone on Peterson should try to get to the root cause of why any deficiency exists. It is this root cause that needs to be addressed through the ESOHCAMP process. ESOHCAMP is about the safety of people and the environment. It is also about Peterson's ability to excel in regulatory inspections from outside agencies, raise awareness across the base and especially at the wing leadership level in order to know where to focus resources to improve the quality of life on the installation.