While driving onto the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center (MMAC) every day, one might be surprised at just how large this facility is. There are 135 buildings on the Center, (3.7 million square feet of space) and it covers 1,100 acres of land. On an average day, the MMAC accommodates 6,300 employees, contractors and students. Within the Department of Transportation (DOT), the Aeronautical Center hosts the largest number of employees outside of the Washington D.C. area.

MMAC supports the FAA Academy, Enterprise Services Center, the FAA Logistics Center, and multiple tenant organizations. Employees within those establishments perform various tasks such as: classroom instruction, maintenance of FAA equipment, logistics management and warehousing, medical research, facilities management and various administrative duties. Keeping everyone safe in all of those diverse work environments is a challenge.

Between 2011 and 2016, 232 federal employees were seriously injured at work and required time off, or medical care. The injury rate of MMAC employees was relatively low at 1.2 injuries per 100 full-time workers. That translates into an average of 39 federal employees each fiscal year missing a day of work due to a workplace injury.

In order to help reduce the number of injuries in the workplace, the MMAC Occupational Safety, Health and Environmental Compliance Committee (OSHECCOM) led the way to improved employee engagement in FY2017, through a variety of safety and health initiatives.

Specific accomplishments of the OSHECCOM include:

• Throughout the year, the Field Federal Safety and Health Council (FFSHC) provides meetings, training and other educational activities regarding safety and health. Representatives from the FAA OCHECCOM participated in Networking Lunch meetings, covering topics like Safety Management Systems, fall protection (walking/working surfaces and local training opportunities), hazardous communication, hearing conservation, and electrical safety culture to name a few. The Aeronautical Center hosted some of these meetings, and topping the FFHSC Executive Committee list is none other than MMAC’s own Stephanie Schroeder (an Occupational Safety & Health Specialist in the Office of Facility Management – Facility Services Division, AMP-100) helping to lead many of these initiatives.


• Employee Engagement activities within the FAA Distribution Center (AML-1000) were directly correlated to the overall reduction in the fiscal year (FY) 2017 injury rate reduction. This group experienced a 58% reduction of serious incidents, from an average of 7.3 incidents per year to only 3 incidents during FY2017. The AML-1000 OSH Continual Improvement Team, in conjunction with the MMAC Environmental and Safety Staff (AMP-100) and local labor representatives (AFGE), implemented an initiative to improve employee engagement in the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Program. This initiative focused on developing an environment of open communication and establishing a culture where management and employees collaborate to create a world class OSH program. It established an employee-driven team, with representatives from the eight branches of AML-1000 to track employee safety in the organization.

Results of the team's efforts include a decreased number of inspection findings, identification of unsafe conditions that otherwise may not have been identified until a mishap or injury occurred, and receipt of over 100 safety suggestions and unsafe condition reports from personnel in the organization. The collaboration, initiative, and leadership of the AML-1000 OSH Continual Improvement Team was instrumental in making the MMAC a safer workplace and is a model that can be replicated throughout the FAA. OSHECCOM was recently recognized with a “Making a Difference in the Workplace” award in Washington DC. Following are some of the accomplishments that earned the honor:

• The OSHECCOM has been the primary support and communication platform for MMAC Safety Stand Down events which are held twice each year. The MMAC OSHECCOM voted to implement a Safety Stand Down (SSD) in 2013 that promotes and improves workplace safety throughout the Center. This vote was supported by all lines of business and staff offices (AFN, ATO, AVS, AHR, and ASH). This decision also formed a SSD team to serve as the focal point for all Safety Stand Down events. The team has three labor representatives, three management representatives, and one representative from the MMAC OSH Staff. The SSD team works in conjunction with MMAC labor and management to determine the OSH areas that will be focused upon during each event. During 2017, the SSD proclaimed the motto, "Safety is Our Passion." More than 110 events were coordinated by union and management personnel to engage employees in open discussions about workplace safety. Survey results indicate that 9 out of 10 MMAC employees believe safety is important to their organization.


• During 2017, the MMAC OSHECCOM implemented quarterly safety inspections throughout all worksites. A subcommittee, which included union and management personnel collaborated and developed the baseline facility inspection checklists, and analyzed the logistics for implementing the process Center-wide. All MMAC supervisors began worksite inspections in the first quarter of FY2018 and will require supervisors and pertinent union personnel to walk through each work area to identify and correct safety hazards. These actions are expected to further reduce the number of annual facility inspection findings, improve employee awareness of safety initiatives, and reduce workplace incidents.


• The OSHECCOM also identified and eliminated food preparation devices and the consumption of food in industrial areas. Local AFGE and PAACE union personnel were instrumental in the approach to eliminate this hazard for employees.


• During 2017, the OSHECCOM also established a subcommittee and clarified a standard MMAC-wide approach for personal space heaters and personal refrigerators. Local NATCA and AFGE union personnel and management personnel worked together to evaluate associated regulations, safety hazards, and facility requirements. As a result, employees and supervisors have a clear path for review and approval of appliance requests. The combination of these initiatives resulted in an employee workplace that is engaged in the MMAC safety and health program. As a result, the FY2017 incident rate was reduced by 29% from 1.2 to 0.85; from an average of 39 incidents to only 25 incidents in fiscal year 2017. The OSHECCOM’s continued focus on employee engagement through hazard identification, Safety Stand Down events and quarterly worksite inspections emphasizes the importance of safety culture at MMAC. It is clear to see that collaboration between union and management for these initiatives has helped change the safety culture of the MMAC safety and health programs. So next time you drive onto the Aeronautical Center, just remember that Safety remains a daunting task, and every individual, including yourself, is responsible. With a facility this large, it is imperative that everyone stays engaged in the challenge of workplace safety.