Airmen gain perspective of environmental compliance

  • Published
  • By Marine Lance Cpl. M. Todd Hunter
  • Detachment 11, Air Force News Agency
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan (AFNEWS) --  Kadena AB Airmen conducted their annual Environmental, Safety and Occupational Health Compliance Assessment Management Program, or ESOHCAMP, Jan. 22 to 26 to check unit compliance of Air Force and Japanese laws and regulations.

ESOHCAMP, aimed at protecting the people and environment of the base, was a week-long volunteer program that required Airmen to act as evaluators to assess unit protocols for issues including confined spaces and hazardous materials for the entire 18th Wing, and the base's recreation venues.

Confined spaces were a concern due to the presence of hazardous atmospheres including oxygen deficient or enriched areas.

"These can lead people to being overcome, passing out, and being poisoned. So before you just send someone into a hole, you need to know what's down there," said Tech. Sgt. Jose Parra, the NCO in charge of Kadena AB ground safety.

A majority of the program was focused on hazardous materials due to their prominence on base.

"A lot of shops and organizations have to make sure everything is in order," said 2nd Lt. Tim Truong, an ESOHCAMP manager. "It's very important to make sure everything is in compliance, so every year hazardous materials and hazardous wastes are the higher protocol we find problems with."

Any major problems found during ESOHCAMP were to be reported so the 18th Wing can "get funding to fix the problems before external sources come in and fine us," Lieutenant Troung said.

Every third year, assessors from other Air Force commands in the Pacific come here to conduct an external ESOHCAMP. Kadena AB conducts internal ESOHCAMP's every year. Last year, Kadena AB received an excellent rating, the highest given for compliance.

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