RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
Randolph Air Force Base pushes forward with efforts to move a step beyond the environmental management system.
An environmental management system is required of all bases in accordance with executive order 13423 and when Randolph's wing commander signed the Environmental Safety and Occupational Health Management System policy letter, it ensured compliance with the Air Education and Training Command's standard.
"We're committed to conducting our mission in a safe and environmentally responsible manner, which will protect human health, natural resources and the environment," Col. Jacqueline Van Ovost, 12th Flying Training Wing commander said. "This commitment goes beyond compliance with the law. It encompasses the integration of sound environmental, safety and occupational health practices into our daily decisions and activities."
The ESOH-MS will be used here as an organizational management system used to strategically address the impact Randolph's program has on various safety, health and environmental concerns.
"Benefits from this program will result in an increase in mission efficiency, while mitigating risks, reducing operating costs and the consumption of non-renewable resources resulting in smaller amounts of pollution being generated," Robin Armhold, 12th Mission Support Group Natural Resources chief said.
Executive order 13423 requires the environmental management system, or EMS, to reach mandated energy, water, air quality, green building, green procurement and hazardous materials reduction goals.
"Within AETC, we also roll in safety and occupational health goals, which takes the EMS concept beyond 'E' to a holistic mission management system," Ms. Armhold explained. "We want to continue to improve environmental, safety and occupational health performance and compliance to maintain better relations with regulators and the public."
Compliance with these ESOH-MS goals is the responsibility of every member of the Randolph community according to his or her roles and responsibilities in an organization, Col. Van Ovost said.
"ESOH-MS cannot succeed if left to the environmental element to implement," Ms. Armhold explained. "It's everyone's responsibility to be aware of environmental, safety and occupational health risks."
Goals of ESOH-MS:
- Maintain effective environmental management system and promote the use of safe technologies and operating practices.
- Measure progress through internal and external inspections and audits.
- Investigate and evaluate new and innovative technologies and practices as appropriate, establish and implement an effective pollution prevention program, minimize the generation of waste, recycle materials and dispose of all wastes in an environmentally responsible manner.
- Ensure responsible use of energy throughout the installation including the adoption of innovative practices and procedures that will conserve energy.
- Provide regular operation-specific environmental, safety and occupational health performance reviews and assessments.
- Provide world-class safety and health programs with a performance focus by implementing the Occupational Safety and Health Administration Voluntary Protection Program.