ESOHCAMP assessment imminent

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Patrick Hyde
  • 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  An Environmental Safety Occupational Health Compliance Assessment and Management Program evaluation is scheduled to occur Feb. 25-29. 

ESOHCAMP is an AF-wide program used to monitor compliance with environmental as well as occupational safety and health laws and regulations. During the program's three year cycle, Incirlik conducts internal inspections for two years and is assessed by external inspectors during
the third year. 

"The ESOHCAMP assessment will identify areas for improvement and those findings will require get well plans and follow up actions. The assessment is part of a continuous improvement process that will help Incirlik enhance environmental compliance, work place safety and occupational health," said James Brendlinger, Vinnel, Brown, and Root Civil Engineering director. 

United States Air Forces in Europe is sending a team comprised of Department of Defense employees, active duty military and contractors to do an external assessment of Incirlik environmental protocols next week. 

There are 13 environmental protocols that comprise ESOHCAMP evaluations: air emissions, cultural resources, hazardous materials, hazardous waste, natural resources, pesticides, petroleum products, solid waste management, storage tanks, drinking water, wastewater and toxic substances such as: lead based paint, asbestos, radon and other environmental contaminants. Safety and occupational health are now also included in ESOHCAMP. 

This base-wide environmental assessment is similar to a unit compliance inspection in which assessors evaluate paperwork and perform on-site visits to ensure compliance with environmental standards," said Mr. Brendlinger. 

Three main areas which undergo the most scrutiny are: hazardous material accumulation points, fuel tank storage and hazardous waste storage accumulation points. 

Findings or 'write-ups' are broken down into major and minor categories. 

"A write-up is not necessarily a bad thing," said Duane Kruse, 39th Civil Engineer Squadron environmental management chief. "A write-up informs the base hierarchy of a problem which could increase the funding priority of the identified deficiency," he said. 

Although CE environmental is always available to assist base agencies and work centers, everyone is responsible for taking care of the environment and everyone can make a difference by making sure they have a clean and safe work area, explained Mr. Kruse. 

The VBR environmental team conducts staff assistance visits to Incirlik offices that have areas located within the 13 protocols. 

"We are willing to do what it takes to help base agencies prepare for the assessment," Mr. Kruse said. 

Incirlik's last internal ESOHCAMP assessment took place in August 2007 and was carried out by base volunteers who attended a two day class and were trained to evaluate and assess environmental areas covered in each protocol. 

"Since the internal assessment, we have corrected and closed out 55 initial findings," said Diondrae White, VBR environmental engineer. "We're ready for next week's inspection."