2009 ESOHCAMP highlights Tyndall compliance Published Aug. 14, 2009 By Staff Sgt. Joshua Stevens 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Officials from Air Education and Training Command finished a weeklong Environmental, Safety and Occupational Health Compliance Assessment and Management Program inspection during an out-brief at the 325th Air Control Squadron Auditorium Aug. 14. Teddy James, AETC Headquarters ESOHCAMP and EMS manager, delivered the out-brief to base leadership and management. Regarding the base's performance, he said, "I have several assessors on my team who were here the last time Tyndall was inspected, and they feel the base is in much better shape. ... Of particular importance, Tyndall was recognized for being the very first base in AETC to receive zero findings against its hazardous materials programs - the first." The ESOHCAMP inspection team reviewed Tyndall's Environmental Management System to determine how the base is complying with federal, state and local regulations and permits, as well as Air Force instructions. Overall, Tyndall received a healthy rating, with the majority of mark-ups landing in the minor category. Criteria used for this assessment include: three categories of negative findings --significant, major and minor, in addition to positive and management practice findings. Findings listed in all categories are calculated and used for an installation's overall rating. No findings at Tyndall were found to be "significant." Outstanding performers were showcased and awarded during the out-brief: Gary Gatewood, 325th Maintenance Group, DS2 Gary Johnson, 325 MXG, DS2 Roger Sweat, 325th Force Support Squadron Ted Broome, 325th Civil Engineer Squadron, CEAN Edwin Wallace, 325 CES, CEAN In addition, one Airmen was recognized as "Best of the Assessment:" Senior Airman Amanda Stiffler, 325th Maintenance Squadron Unlike an Operational Readiness Inspection, the ESOHCAMP team was not here to "give out tickets" for problems, but rather with a goal of helping Team Tyndall find and correct problems that could cause or contribute to regulatory violations, possibly including fines, if state or federal regulatory agency inspectors were to make the findings. If resources are needed to help correct a deficiency, the ESOHCAMP team can help validate the problem and lend support to a request for resources. The protocols evaluated included air emissions, cultural resources, hazardous waste, hazardous materials, water quality, solid waste, wastewater, natural resources, pesticides, petroleum, oil and lubricants, storage tanks, toxic substances, blood borne pathogens, confined space entry, ionizing radiation, hazardous communication, laboratory practices and other issues involving radon, polychlorinated biphenyls and asbestos. Many of these protocols across the base were recognized for zero findings, the only area of concern fell to documentation in management systems, but corrective actions are already underway. The base was also recognized for the AETC special interest item "use of florescent light bulbs." Tyndall's concentrated efforts to utilize them resulted in zero findings against the installation. Base leadership communicated the significance of the base's successes during the inspection. "I'm very proud and want to thank everyone who participated in this year's ESOHCAMP inspection, especially the key players and superior performers," said Col. Bradley McCoy, 325th Fighter Wing vice commander. "It's never easy to have an inspection team come to your base, but we've looked at our programs here often and early, and when the team came in, we got the results we knew we would. Any findings that were found simply give us the opportunity to make the base even better."