Wing earns high marks in environmental, safety assessment Published Jan. 16, 2009 By Capt. Gabe Johnson 162nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs TUCSON, Ariz. -- The 162nd Fighter Wing earned superior ratings during an Environmental, Safety, Occupational Health, Compliance Assessment and Management Program (ESOHCAMP) inspection conducted here Jan. 5-9. The National Guard Bureau sent a multiple disciplinary team of inspectors to perform the ESOHCAMP inspection on the wing, a Guard-wide requirement every three years. Its purpose is to evaluate the unit's compliance with federal, state, local and Air Force regulations to ensure environmental, safety and occupational health programs are effective. "You have very effective programs here," said Senior Master Sgt. Michelle Miller, ESOHCAMP team chief. "In many cases, the wing's programs, which were already quite strong, have improved since we last visited three years ago." The overall program health of the 162nd's environmental, occupational health, ground safety, weapons safety and flight safety earned "successful" ratings in their respective categories, and the Environmental Management System received an "operational" rating. "This is one of the best ESOHCAMP inspections we've ever had," said Col. Greg Stroud, acting wing commander. "This assessment confirms what we've known all along... we all have a safe and clean work environment." According to Lt. Col. Doug Slocum, wing chief of safety, the inspection wasn't isolated to the safety and environmental offices. "It really is a wing-wide assessment," he said. "Our maintenance and operations groups were heavily involved as were several staff offices and backshops. So this assessment really shows that our people are doing the right things as they go about making the mission happen." "When our wing gets together for an inspection, whether it's medical, environmental or safety, we do very well," said Colonel Stroud. "I want to thank every wing member who plays a role in keeping our programs current and effective."