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HomeAbout DLANewsNews Article View

# HDIFC receives VPP Star recertification

By Kelly BurellDLA Disposition Services

                BATTLE CREEK, Mich.  –              
Last fall, the Hart-Dole-Inouye Federal Center in Battle Creek, Michigan, was inspected by Occupational Safety and Health Administration for the Voluntary Protection Program Star recertification, a title that the building has held since 2013.

Defense Logistics Agency Disposition Services is one of five major subordinate commands that participates in the OSHA program that awards participants that have adopted effective safety and                 DLA Disposition Services VPP inspection                            DLA Disposition Services employee and VPP inspector discuss building inspection.            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: Jeff LandenbergerVIRIN: 220830-D-YU183-003health management systems that maintain injury rates below the national average.

“VPP is not just leadership. It’s employee drive,” DLA Disposition Services Director Mike Cannon said.  “To the teams associated, congrats and well done.”

The recertification process included a week-long, on-site inspection led by Region 5 VPP Program Manager Nancy Mugavero, and special government employees who volunteer their time to assist.

Volunteers are knowledgeable in the four pillars of VPP – Management Commitment and Employee Involvement, Worksite Analysis, Hazard Prevention and Control, and Safety and Health Training - and are from other Star certified locations.

“Nancy Mugavero has been the lead on three of the certifications for HDIFC and has been a big influence on many of the employees and leadership,” DLA Disposition Services Safety Specialist and VPP Coordinator for HDIFC Charlie Keegan said. “Nancy retired from OSHA on Dec. 31, 2022, and will be greatly missed.”                Hart-Dole-Inouye Federal Center VPP Team                            Hart-Dole-Inouye Federal Center Voluntary Protection Program team.            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: Kelly BurellVIRIN: 220907-D-D0441-505 

Inspectors collected information by reviewing documents, interviewing employees and management, evaluated annual reports and a physical observation of the facility.

“The final report was nearly flawless; we had zero 90-day items,” DLA Disposition Services Safety and Occupational Health Manager Bill Cohoe said.  “We easily showed the improvements made since the last inspection five years ago, and overall culture spoke for itself.  The OSHA inspector was amazed at what the safety office and the occupants of the facility were able to do doing COVID to keep VPP alive and well.”

Efforts were made by all tenants of HDIFC - including DLA Disposition Services, DLA Installation Management, DLA Logistics Operations, DLA Information Operations, and the American Federation of Government Employees Local 1626. 

“I’m very proud of the team for all they were able to accomplish in preparation for OSHA’s visit,” Cohoe said. “While VPP is an employee-driven program, there is a ton of work done behind the scenes to prepare us of the actual inspection, from completing all of the required inspections, documenting all process changes, pulling all the documentation together for the inspection.”

HDIFC Safety Office and workforce will have to complete the recertification process again in five years.

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