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NEWS | May 13, 2024

Tobyhanna continues certification to ISO 45001 with expanded scope

By Mr. Nicolo Manzo

Following a meticulous site audit of the installation, Tobyhanna Army Depot (TYAD) has been recommended for continued certification to the International Organization for Standard (ISO) 45001 standard. This recommendation is the result of TYAD’s steadfast commitment to the implementation of programs, policies, and procedures that ensure a safe working environment, in which Team Tobyhanna can best support our nation’s warfighters.

As defined by ISO, “ISO 45001 is an international standard that specifies requirements for an occupational health and safety management system.”

Safety is a top priority for TYAD, and adherence to this standard helps to ensure a safe workplace through reduction of injuries, accidents, or diseases. The prioritization of safety is evident in the auditors’ findings of no major non-conformances and just a handful of minor non-conformances.

During the opening meeting for the audit, Lead Auditor Leigh Brand emphasized the goal is not perfection. Brand has yet to see it in over two decades and hundreds of audits. Instead, the process affords TYAD the opportunity to continuously improve processes.

“We are not looking for perfection. I’ve never seen a perfect system,” said Brand. “We’re not assessing people. We’re assessing process.”

This approach directly aligns with TYAD’s process-based leadership model, which provides employees with a roadmap to success and helps to ensure continued readiness and efficiency regardless of changes among the organization’s workforce.

The benefits of the assessment process are many. Chief among them are the opportunities to take an honest look at organizational processes to determine how they have improved as a result of previous findings as well as how they can continue to improve.

Auditor Jeri Ann Schlemmer said building trust and transparency between the organization and the audit team is essential to producing a successful audit.

“This is an open dialogue. It is paramount to the success of the audit that we have open, honest communication.”

Over the course of the four-day site assessment, several areas of the installation were assessed through observation of procedures and processes and interviews with members of Team Tobyhanna.

One notable aspect of this audit was the expansion of the scope of the certification to include TYAD’s many tenant activities and contractors. Personnel from tenant organizations and contractors work alongside TYAD’s civilian workforce as one team to support the mission of providing world-class support to our nation’s warfighters.

Health Physicist Noah Stagliano, who served as a lead and point of contact for the audit, said this expansion ensures all members of Team Tobyhanna working on the installation will be protected by the high TYAD standards of safety.

“Expanding the scope to include tenant activities and contractors ensures that TYAD’s stringent safety standards are in place for everyone on the installation,” said Stagliano. “By bringing everyone under one umbrella, we reinforce the philosophy that we are one team fighting one fight.”

TYAD Safety & Occupational Health Office Chief Dana Bilotta said creating a safe workplace is a team effort, and credited members of Team Tobyhanna’s desire to create the safest work environment for them and their teammates as the driving force that has propelled TYAD to continued ISO 45001 certification.

“Tobyhanna’s enduring position as a leader in safety is a direct reflection of our workforce. The emphasis on safety from depot leadership combined with initiatives spearheaded by the Safety & Occupational Health Office team and the participation and vigilance of the entire workforce ensures a safe workplace for all,” said Bilotta.

With the positive results in tow, TYAD can now continue to proactively monitor and improve its occupational health and safety management system in order to meet the impressive ISO 45001 standard.

Bilotta said this constant commitment to safety reinforces the Army’s and TYAD’s belief that a safe workplace is a non-negotiable for the wellbeing of the workforce and the mission.

“Tobyhanna’s commitment to maintaining the lofty ISO 45001 standard aligns directly with the Army belief that its people are its greatest asset; a safe workplace ensures we all can best support warfighter readiness.”

Creating and maintaining a safe workplace through re-certification to the ISO 45001 standard directly aligns with Tobyhanna’s long-range strategic plan, TOBY2035, which has four focus areas: Invest in Our People, C5ISR Readiness, Shape the Future and Strategic Communications. TOBY2035 aims to posture the depot for success in the coming years as the Department of Defense's premier worldwide C5ISR readiness provider.

Tobyhanna Army Depot is a recognized leader in providing world-class logistics support for command, control, communications, computers, cyber, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C5ISR) systems across the Department of Defense. Tobyhanna’s Corporate Philosophy, dedicated work force and electronics expertise ensure the depot is the Joint C5ISR provider of choice for all branches of the Armed Forces and industry partners.

Tobyhanna’s unparalleled capabilities include full-spectrum logistics support for sustainment, overhaul and repair, fabrication and manufacturing, engineering design and development, systems integration, post-production software support, technology insertion, modification, foreign military sales and global field support to our joint warfighters.

About 3,100 personnel are employed at Tobyhanna, which is located in the Pocono Mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania. Tobyhanna Army Depot is part of the U.S. Army CECOM. Headquartered at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, the command’s mission is to empower the Soldier with winning C5ISR capabilities.