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Western Aircraft Values Safety First and Foremost

Left to right: OSHA’s Regional Administrator Richard Terrill, and Western Aircraft’s CEO, Allen Hoyt, along with employees of Western Aircraft’s Boise, Idaho location. "The prevention of occupationally induced injuries and illnesses is of such consequence that it will be given precedence over operating productivity whenever necessary," says Allen Hoyt, Chief Executive Officer of Western Aircraft Inc. of Boise, Idaho. The commitment Western Aircraft made to excellent safety and health operations and its work with the Idaho OSHA On-site Consultation Program paved the way for the company’s admittance to the OSHA Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP). During the September 27, 2006 SHARP ceremony, OSHA Regional Administrator Richard Terrill stated, "Western Aircraft has placed safety as a core value in its business plan. In collaboration with employees, it continues to improve an already excellent safety and health management system." Years ago, before working with the Idaho OSHA On-site Consultation Program, Western Aircraft had received a wake-up call when a Western fuel truck exploded, nearly claiming an employee’s life. Since that event, Western’s continued improvements in its safety efforts has resulted in a Days Away, Restricted and/or Transfer (DART) rate and Total Recordable Case (TRC) rate of 0.0. By valuing safety first and foremost, Hoyt has helped lead a company-wide commitment that has improved Western’s safety record. Western’s turn-around can be attributed to plenty of hard work by managers and employees. Communication between line workers and managers was seen as a crucial beginning, which led to the development of a Hazard Identification and Near Miss Reporting System. Western’s Safety Committee evaluates employee input from these two areas on a monthly basis. Among other things, the company’s Safety Committee, which is comprised of employees who conduct day-to-day operations as well as members of management, has implemented improvements in fall protection, developed a safety awareness training for new employees, and has created a new full-time safety and health training manager position. Western views their cooperation and continuing efforts with Idaho’s OSHA Occupational Safety and Health On-site Consultation Program as critical to their success. Walk-throughs of the facility and visits with consultants have led to Western becoming only the fourth company in the state of Idaho to obtain SHARP designation. Hoyt notes that the management and employees of Western look forward to an ongoing relationship with the Idaho Consultation Program to further bolster their safety efforts. Western Aircraft Inc., is an authorized service center, certified aircraft repair station, and worldwide distributor of parts and avionics for many of the world’s top aircraft manufacturers. The company has five large hangers, totaling more than 70,000 square feet, and approximately 150 employees.

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