  Workers with Hanford Tank Waste Operations & Closure use long-reach tools to tighten nozzle connectors while installing the final piece of piping needed to connect the tank farms to the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant.
Achievement marks latest step toward solidifying Hanford tank waste in glass
RICHLAND, Wash. — By installing the last piece of pipe, Hanford Site workers have completed the final connection between underground tanks storing radioactive waste and the waste treatment plant that will begin solidifying it in glass later this year.
“Advancing the tank waste mission safely and effectively is a top priority for the Hanford Site,” U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management Hanford Field Office Acting Deputy Manager Brian Harkins said. “This last link brings Hanford another step closer to solidifying tank waste in glass. We’re doing some final testing at the plant to make sure the exhaust system is ready, and soon we’ll be ready to begin making glass.”
 The jumper is lowered into position in the Tank AP-106 A Pit at the Hanford Site.
Workers previously installed a 3,500-foot underground transfer line between the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant and a million-gallon storage tank called AP-106. The tank holds about 830,000 gallons of waste that has been treated and is ready to send to the plant where it will be solidified in glass.
Workers recently installed the final piece of pipe, called a jumper, to complete the connection.
“Installing this last piece of equipment involved months of coordination with treatment plant staff for awareness and safety,” Hanford Tank Waste Operations and Closure (H2C) President and Program Manager Carol Johnson said. “This final connection is a clear indication of the progress the One Hanford team is making toward hot commissioning.”
Hanford is currently “cold commissioning” the plant, using a simulated waste made up of chemicals to test treatment and exhaust systems. “Hot commissioning,” using actual waste from Tank AP-106, will begin later this year. Workers with H2C and the treatment plant are practicing waste transfer procedures to ensure safe, compliant transfers in the coming months.
Click the link here to see how crews installed the jumper.
 Bryan Bower, West Valley Demonstration Project director, left, and Stephen Bousquet, West Valley assistant director of project management, observe the cover installation over the footprint of the Main Plant Process Building. Completion of the Main Plant demolition has significantly altered the landscape of the site.
Bryan Bower has served as the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Environmental Management’s (EM) director of the West Valley Demonstration Project in New York for almost 20 years, managing the cleanup of the only commercial nuclear fuel reprocessing facility to operate in the United States. Prior to his appointment as director in 2006, he served in other positions at the site, and at DOE headquarters and the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in New Mexico. With EM wrapping up the demolition of the former Main Plant Process Building, the last major facility at the West Valley site, EM Update spoke with Bower about the successful project and lessons that could be applied at other cleanup sites.
To start things off, what does completing the demolition of the former Main Plant mean for the overall cleanup of the West Valley site?
First off, it is a significant risk reduction. The Main Plant was the most contaminated facility on the site. From a community perspective, the skyline change with the building gone is incredible. This sends a clear message to the community that we are making great progress with West Valley.
I want to emphasize how safely our site workforce performed this job. I’m so proud of the workforce here, not just those involved in the Main Plant demolition, but for all the safe work done across the site. Over the 30 months it took to demolish the Main Plant, we had no notable injuries.
What was the most challenging part of the demolition project?
The biggest challenge was we were doing this demolition very close to the public. We did extensive modeling and extensive planning on what the potential releases could be from the Main Plant, and developed “protected assumptions” to control the demolition. We discussed the protected assumptions with the demolition crews during their plan-of-the-day, or POD, briefings.
Along with completing the demolition of the Main Plant safely, a top priority for EM, you were able to complete the project significantly under budget. How did you achieve this while still being safe?
Our planning indicated it would take about 30 months to take down the Main Plant, and that’s about exactly how long it has taken. Working with CH2M HILL BWXT West Valley (CHBWV), we laid out exactly how we were going to demolish each of the 70 cells and areas in the Main Plant. CHBWV used a 3D model, and they would go through this 3D model with the workforce every day in their POD briefing. Everything was laid out in very detailed work packages, and they just stuck to the plan the entire time.
In addition to our extensive planning and using lessons from other EM sites, we had great partnering with CHBWV.
Did the site’s history as a former nuclear fuel reprocessing facility lead to any complications in taking down the Main Plant?
One of the challenges we had was how to address the Main Plant’s former Product Purification Cell. This had high levels of plutonium contamination. We had to get very creative in decontaminating that cell prior to doing the demolition. After we removed all the piping and vessels, we used a liquid nitrogen system to remove a slight layer of the concrete surface.
During the demolition of the Product Purification Cell, we had to slowly and meticulously remove the cell over several weeks. That was quite challenging, but in the end we were successful.
How did the relationships you fostered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, state regulators and the local communities near the site contribute to your success?
One of the things I’m most proud of here is the relationships we built to do the things we did. That includes with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the EPA, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, the town of Ashford and the Seneca Nation of Indians.
You've had a long career throughout DOE and at West Valley, and so as you look back, what in your career helped you the most to get this project to where it is today?
When I was interviewing for the position nearly 20 years ago, I was asked what I wanted to accomplish at West Valley. What I said was, "I want to work with people to find a solution for West Valley.” What excites me and what energizes me is working with people and finding solutions. I think my biggest contribution to the site was to work collaboratively with New York state, our site partner, our stakeholders and our regulators. And I hope we can still do that with the next phase of work here, as we tackle the belowground portion of the Main Plant and other remaining projects.
 U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management Los Alamos Field Office and Newport News Nuclear BWXT-Los Alamos leadership and waste operations crew observe the first corrugated metal pipe transuranic waste stream shipment at Technical Area 54, Area G, at Los Alamos National Laboratory.
LOS ALAMOS, N.M. — The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Environmental Management (EM) Los Alamos Field Office (EM-LA) has reached a significant stage in a key project for the legacy cleanup mission at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) by beginning offsite shipments of transuranic waste from previously buried corrugated metal pipes (CMPs) for permanent disposal.
EM-LA and legacy cleanup contractor Newport News Nuclear BWXT-Los Alamos (N3B) have completed the first CMP waste stream shipment to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP), near Carlsbad, New Mexico. It consisted of three standard waste boxes (SWBs). Due to the size of each CMP section, only one CMP section per SWB can be shipped.
“I would like to thank N3B on this major accomplishment — shipping legacy transuranic waste to WIPP is paramount to the success of the LANL legacy cleanup mission,” said Jessica Kunkle, EM-LA manager. “I would also like to extend my gratitude to the WIPP Central Characterization Program team, which is instrumental in completing the characterization and certification process necessary to meet the WIPP waste acceptance criteria for shipments to WIPP.”
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During mobile loading at Technical Area 54, Area G, a standard waste box with one corrugated metal pipe section of transuranic waste is put into a special container known as a TRUPACT for shipment to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant. |
Mark Bollinger, manager of the EM Carlsbad Field Office, which manages WIPP, said the shipments to the underground waste repository require collaboration among several DOE entities.
“We appreciate how important the disposal of legacy transuranic waste is, including the CMPs from LANL, to the residents of northern New Mexico,” Bollinger said. “The entire process to prepare the waste takes very close coordination and we are proud to play our part in ensuring this legacy waste is disposed of safely and efficiently.”
A total of 158 CMPs with transuranic waste were buried at LANL’s Technical Area 54, Area G, in 1986. They contained cemented radioactive liquid waste from a former LANL radioactive liquid waste treatment facility that operated during the Cold War era. Each CMP measured approximately 20 feet long and weighed between 10,000 and 14,000 pounds.
 Newport News Nuclear BWXT-Los Alamos waste operations crew members prepare the first corrugated metal pipe (CMP) transuranic waste stream shipment for permanent disposal at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant. Each TRUPACT, which is a special container, holds one standard waste box with one CMP section.
In 2022, N3B began retrieving the buried CMPs at Area G. The CMP project marks the first time N3B has addressed buried legacy transuranic waste at LANL.
After retrieval, CMPs were transported to Dome 375 for size-reduction using a hydraulic shear, which was encased in a structure designed to prevent release of contamination to workers and the outside environment. Each CMP was cut into five sections for loading into SWBs for shipment and disposal. In addition, a significant amount of safety planning and practice work was performed prior to starting size-reduction.
CMP size-reduction resulted in 792 SWBs of transuranic waste stored at Area G. The SWBs will go through several stages of characterization to confirm they are safe to ship and compliant for disposal at WIPP. Once certified, the SWBs are loaded into special containers, known as TRUPACTs, for shipment. EM-LA anticipates a steady momentum of CMP waste shipments to WIPP.
“One of our main areas of work is reducing the remaining legacy radioactive waste inventories at LANL,” N3B President and General Manager Brad Smith said. “The CMP project is the first time we have tackled buried waste at this scale, and I am proud of the N3B employees who played a role in the retrieval, size-reduction and now disposal of this material. Not only does this help us continue making progress, but it will provide important lessons learned as we plan how to address other types of legacy waste at LANL.”
-Contributors: Stephanie Gallagher, Mike Nartker
 At left is the Train Shed, shown in 2021. At right Is a view of an indoor crane being removed from the Train Shed earlier this year.
LAS VEGAS — The Environmental Management (EM) Nevada Program has completed the demolition of the largest ancillary structure remaining at the Engine Maintenance, Assembly and Disassembly (EMAD) Facility at the Nevada National Security Sites (NNSS).
The building brought down at the NNSS was formally known as Building 3901, but more commonly is referred to as the “Train Shed.”
“We are pleased to get this structure to the ground as part of our long term cleanup mission,” EM Nevada Program Manager Robert Boehlecke said. “The project was completed safely and furthers our progress in remediating contaminated sites at the NNSS.”
 EMTV: Watch a video about the demolition of the Train Shed at the Nevada National Security Sites.
The Train Shed sat for a generation in the shadow of the massive EMAD facility, which was built in the 1960s and was once the largest hot cell in the world. EMAD, along with Test Cell C, are part of EM’s ongoing cleanup effort, and both were key components of the NNSS Area 25 Nuclear Rocket Development Station.
The next phase of demolition at EMAD will focus on the 100,000-square-foot main structure. To get there, however, crews have followed a methodical process of asbestos abatement and removal, as well as removing the ancillary structures. To date, these structures included a large stand-alone water tower, two exhaust stacks on the main building and the Train Shed.
 A view of the Train Shed pad in May following demolition of the building.
Jason Sofie, Industrial Sites manager for Navarro Research & Engineering Inc., EM Nevada’s environmental program services contractor, is proud of the deliberate, detailed approach the team took toward the Train Shed. Before demolition began, the building interior was sprayed with an encapsulant to prevent spreading airborne contaminants during demolition. All debris from the Train Shed demolition was packaged and will be properly disposed of at the NNSS.
“We all worked together as a team and successfully brought the building down,” Sofie said. “We have an end product that changes the horizon and the landscape at the EMAD compound and the NNSS, so it is fulfilling at the end of the day.”
-Contributor: Glenn Puit
 Moab Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action Project staff members gather with U.S. Rep. Mike Kennedy of Utah, third from left, and Grand County Commission Chair Bill Winfield, far right, at the Moab Project site rail bench overlook. Haul trucks carry sealed steel containers of uranium mill tailings at the Moab Project up to the hillside rail bench where they are loaded on train cars and transported 30 miles north to the disposal cell at the Crescent Junction site.
MOAB, Utah ― The Moab Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action Project recently hosted U.S. Rep. Mike Kennedy of Utah and Grand County Commission Chair Bill Winfield for a tour of the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management (EM) cleanup site.
EM Moab Project staff provided the visitors with an overview presentation of the project, explaining the origins of the site and how it came to contain an estimated 16 million-ton uranium mill tailings pile. The staff members also detailed cleanup efforts for contaminated groundwater and placement of the tailings and other contaminated materials — called residual radioactive materials — in the Moab Project’s disposal cell near Crescent Junction, Utah.
 Moab Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action Project team members are pictured with staff members from U.S. Rep. Mike Kennedy’s office in the Moab Project well field, which is the location of groundwater extraction and injection wells.
As the Moab Project moves closer to cleanup completion, EM continues to collaborate with local stakeholders to plan for the future of the Moab Project site.
“We were thrilled to welcome the congressman to our project,” Moab Federal Project Cleanup Director Matthew Udovitsch said. “There’s no better way to grasp the scope of our cleanup efforts and develop an appreciation for the Moab property than experiencing it firsthand.”
-Contributor: Barbara Michel
 CH2M HILL BWXT West Valley (CHBWV) contributed $8.3 million toward a milestone $2 billion in savings by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Supply Chain Management Center. Pictured with a plaque recognizing the achievement are CHBWV team members, from left, Cheryl Pavone, Michelle Schweickert, Lynn Holfelder, Jason Casper, Paul Carlone, Alissa Kolodziejski, Jordan Seltzer-Howes, Chelsye Zerfas and Crystal Barsalou.
Contractors throughout the cleanup complex have contributed about $360 million in savings toward a total $2 billion saved by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Supply Chain Management Center (SCMC).
DOE Office of Environmental Management prime contractors accounted for 18% of the total savings since 2013, when SCMC began tracking the savings from EM and National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) contractors. Meanwhile, NNSA contractors realized $1.64 billion, or 82%, of the savings.
“Collaboration is key,” SCMC Senior Director Scott Bissen said. “This achievement is proof of what happens when prime contractors work together for the benefit of the enterprise.”
SCMC is dedicated to simplifying the buying process to enable savings for EM and NNSA contractors. The center has been transforming the approach to enterprise supply chain efficiency since 2006. The term “supply chain” refers to the flow of goods, services and materials to EM sites. It involves all activities that turn raw materials into finished products, including planning, sourcing, production, warehousing, shipping and distribution.
The center works collaboratively with the prime contractors to offer purchasing agreements and digital procurement tools. This saves time by reducing duplication of effort, enabling buyers to focus on site-specific needs. By leveraging a combined $7 billion in annual spend, SCMC can negotiate prices, which saves money that can be reinvested into additional site priorities. The center works with more than 26 EM and NNSA sites.
 Idaho Environmental Coalition’s procurement team holds a plaque commending the company for contributing nearly $3.7 million toward the $2 billion Supply Chain Management Center-enabled savings milestone. Pictured from left, back row: Alonzo Trejo, Hector De Loera, Britney Andersen, Colin Mayo, Timmy Hall, Ginny Croft, Kellie Hill, Ethan Pope, and Lachelle Thorpe; middle row, Whittney Miller, Lisa Psalto, Keri Austin, Liz Warn, Cassy Merritt, Rachel Elliott, Shawna Southwick and Greg Long; and front row, Paul Bowen and Makenzie Long. Not Pictured: Tracy O’Brien.
Among the EM contractors that have contributed to SCMC's $2 billion savings milestone:
Hanford Site
- Bechtel National Inc., $10.1 million;
- Central Plateau Cleanup Company, $35.8 million;
- Hanford Laboratory Management and Integration, $581,000;
- Hanford Mission Integration Solutions, $8 million; and
- Hanford Tank Waste Operations & Closure, $25.3 million
Idaho Cleanup Project
- Idaho Environmental Coalition, $3.7 million
Los Alamos National Laboratory
- Newport News Nuclear BWXT-Los Alamos, $863,000
Oak Ridge
Paducah Site
- Four Rivers Nuclear Partnership, $2.1 million
Portsmouth Site
- Fluor-BWXT Portsmouth, $22.1 million
Paducah and Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plants
- Mid-America Conversion Services, $7.8 million
Savannah River Site
- Savannah River Mission Completion, $38.3 million
Savannah River National Laboratory
- Battelle Savannah River Alliance, $2.2 million
Waste Isolation Pilot Plant
- Salado Isolation Mining Contractors, $4 million
West Valley Demonstration Project
- CH2M Hill BWXT West Valley, $8.3 million
 Savannah River Mission Completion (SRMC) was recognized by the U.S. Department of Energy’s strategic sourcing program for contributing $38.3 million of a $2 billion total cost savings over three years. Pictured from left are SRMC employees Karl Razey, Bret Evans, Jerome Hicks, Corby Ware, Ashley Hannah, Doug McCrary, Parker Wilson, Caslyn Bazemore and Gregory Sunshein. Not pictured: Nancy Brown.
CH2M Hill BWXT West Valley (CHBWV) President and General Manager Jason Casper described the $8.3 million in savings for the West Valley Demonstration Project as a significant achievement.
“It speaks to the deep commitment CHBWV and the DOE have in being good stewards of taxpayer dollars while supporting an important national security mission,” Casper said.
Idaho Environmental Coalition (IEC) President and Program Manager Dan Coyne applauded IEC’s procurement team for contributing nearly $3.7 million toward the SCMC-enabled savings milestone.
“Our procurement team has helped the government achieve incredible savings,” Coyne said.
 Solomon Bairai of Navarro-ATL prepares a Twister Stir Bar sample for analysis at the Hanford Site's 222-S Laboratory. This process helps identify which chemicals are present in tank waste and in what amounts.
RICHLAND, Wash. — A new method has received state approval for use at the Hanford Site's 222-S Laboratory, improving how experts analyze tank waste and providing more precise data to support safe, efficient cleanup.
The laboratory method, known as Stir Bar Sorptive Micro-Extraction — or Twister Stir Bar for short — was accredited by the Washington State Department of Ecology. It uses a magnetic stir bar to absorb organic compounds from liquid waste samples, which are then analyzed to determine which chemicals are present and in what amounts.
"This accreditation is a significant advancement for our laboratory," said Solomon Bairai, a chemist with Navarro-ATL, who was instrumental in applying this method at the 222-S Laboratory. "It enables us to analyze complex organic compounds in tank waste with greater precision and efficiency, supporting our continuous improvement and innovation at the lab and across the site."
The method also reduces radiation exposure risks, produces less laboratory waste and creates cost saving opportunities. In addition, it supports One Hanford collaboration by helping tank waste contractor Hanford Tank Waste Operations & Closure meet critical performance requirements. One Hanford is a collaborative effort across the site that includes federal and contractor employees.
"Innovative lab methods like this give our teams greater confidence in the data guiding our fieldwork," said Ricky Bang, assistant manager for Tank Waste Operations at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Environmental Management Hanford Field Office. "Better analysis leads to better decisions about how we manage and prepare tank waste for safe disposal."
The technique was developed by 222-S Laboratory contractor Navarro-ATL with support from the Savannah River National Laboratory in South Carolina, reflecting DOE's broader effort to share technologies and scientific advancements across cleanup sites nationwide.
-Contributor: Tracie Arnold
 Savannah River Mission Completion has completed the significant effort to modify or install utility lines aboveground in the Savannah River Site’s H Tank Farm, improving reliability of utilities such as water, plant air, and steam, as well as safety and accessibility for any future maintenance.
AIKEN, S.C. — The contractor cleaning up radioactive tank waste for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Environmental Management (EM) at the Savannah River Site (SRS) has completed a significant effort to improve system reliability and worker safety.
Savannah River Mission Completion (SRMC) has moved nonradioactive plant utility lines in H Tank Farm aboveground or within accessible trenches. These lines supply utilities such as water, steam, compressed air for processing, and cooling systems to help prevent corrosion for most tank farm operations, including an evaporator and other support facilities.
SRS has two tank farms, a grouping of underground tanks that hold radioactive liquid waste generated as byproduct from the processing of nuclear materials for national defense, research, medical programs, and for NASA missions. SRMC is EM’s liquid waste contractor responsible for safely treating and disposing of the millions of gallons of this waste remaining at SRS, as well as closing the tanks.
Historically, all utility pipes in the tank farms were buried within concrete underground, which made repairs extremely challenging and complex. The new, modified piping is now either supported aboveground using pipe bridges or contained in accessible trenches underground. The culmination of the infrastructure improvement effort was completed in May, when the final steam lines were tied in, or integrated with, the liquid waste processing system.
The area of H Tank Farm where this work was completed, known as the East Hill, performs most of the sludge and salt batch preparations that provide the feed for the Defense Waste Processing Facility and Salt Waste Processing Facility.
Improving the utility availability in H Tank Farm gives SRMC the means to optimally run the operating facilities, according to Scott Germain, SRMC tank farms director.
“We need all resources available to support the liquid waste operations and transfers,” Germain said. “Further, this undertaking has lowered the risk of environmental and personnel contamination, as well as tank farm maintenance costs, and provides the reliability necessary to support sludge processing.”
Tony Robinson, DOE-Savannah River acting assistant manager for waste disposition, said EM is committed to the safe and efficient completion of the tank waste cleanup mission at SRS.
“Investing in sustainable infrastructure in the SRS tank farms is proactively safeguarding our people, plant and processes,” Robinson said. “The improvement to the tank farm utility infrastructure also ensures the longevity of the resources needed for the long term success of our mission.”
-Contributor: Colleen Hart
 An aerial view of the Environmental Management Disposal Facility project footprint. Crews installed a 1.3 million-square-foot geomembrane layer that simulates the effect of lined disposal cells on groundwater elevations, creating an impermeable barrier over the site. The turf, much like grass, slows the flow of stormwater, providing improved stormwater controls. The final layer, sand infill, weighs down the turf and prevents damage from strong winds.
OAK RIDGE, Tenn. – The Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management (OREM) and contractor UCOR completed an essential step to prepare for construction of a new onsite disposal facility: groundwater monitoring during the first of two wet seasons.
The Environmental Management Disposal Facility (EMDF) will provide the waste disposal capacity needed to continue OREM’s large scale cleanup projects at the Y-12 National Security Complex and Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
Monitoring groundwater levels is part of a groundwater field demonstration study. This work allows OREM and UCOR to gather information about how groundwater elevations change, providing valuable information for the landfill’s final design.
Gathering data during the wet seasons is important because that's when groundwater levels are highest. There is more rain, and plants without foliage absorb less water. In east Tennessee, the wet season typically runs from December through March.
 Worker installed more than 1,800 feet of waterline to the Environmental Management Disposal Facility site. These utilities will support future construction activities and operations for the disposal facility.
Prior to the start of monitoring, workers installed an impermeable geomembrane over an approximately 1.3 million square-foot area, simulating the effect the disposal facility liner system will have on groundwater elevations.
Results from the first wet season showed groundwater elevations steadily declined over this first wet season by preventing precipitation from infiltrating the future EMDF disposal cell area.
“This first groundwater monitoring season successfully demonstrated that groundwater elevations will be lower under the EMDF disposal cells following construction,” UCOR EMDF Project Manager Mary Magleby said. “We’ll use what we learned from wet season monitoring to inform the design and ensure the disposal cell liner system meets requirements.”
Groundwater elevation monitoring is a requirement listed in the project’s record of decision approved by the U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.
The team, which includes subcontractor CTI, also finished installing utilities at the site to support future EMDF construction activities and operations.
The utility extensions will provide the EMDF site with water and power. Workers installed more than 1,800 feet of waterline and more than 1,300 feet of electrical power line, and they removed roughly 2 miles of previously abandoned power line from the project footprint.
Groundwater elevation monitoring will continue for a second wet season from this December through March next year to provide the data necessary to finalize the facility’s design before construction begins.
-Contributor: Ella Stewart
 A wide variety of booths at the annual Safety Expo at the Savannah River Site engaged employees in many aspects of safety and security.
AIKEN, S.C. — The Savannah River Site (SRS) hosted its annual Safety Expo this spring, featuring over 80 informational booths designed to educate and engage more than 4,000 attendees on a range of topics, allowing them to learn more about safety and security resources available both onsite and in local communities.
Event sponsor Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS), the SRS management and operations contractor, welcomed employees from all SRS contractors for two-and-a-half days of safety engagement at the New Ellenton Parks and Recreation Center in New Ellenton, South Carolina. Expo booths shared information ranging from safety, security and environmental stewardship to personal health, wellness and community services designed to improve quality of life.
Nearly two dozen Local Safety Improvement Teams hosted interactive booths at the expo. Each team is an organized group dedicated to an area or facility, serving as a management-worker communication bridge and fostering worker involvement to achieve the goal of zero injuries.
Participants from SRS liquid waste contractor Savannah River Mission Completion, security services contractor Centerra, Savannah River National Laboratory, U.S. Forest Service and several community organizations also hosted booths, which featured safety and security centered games, quizzes and more.
A new initiative launched at the expo this year to help give back to the New Ellenton community with a food drive. Employees who brought non-perishable goods were entered into a drawing. Three winners walked away with a 70-inch TV and two tablet computers. SRNS also donated $1,000 to the cause.
“An event of this size requires a lot of planning, effort and hard work on everyone’s part,” said Safety Expo Planning Lead and Health and Safety Manager Lea Simons. “Thank you to everyone who pours their time, engagement and enthusiasm into this event each year. Without our employees’ active participation, a successful safety exposition would not be possible.”
Beyond safety, the expo creates an opportunity for employees to network with colleagues outside their usual circles. This year, the event hosted a record-breaking 12 food vendors with a mix of offerings, including gluten-free options.
“What I enjoyed most about the Safety Expo is the sense of comradery — reconnecting with old friends and meeting new ones,” said SRS L Area Production Operator Rhonneka McCoy. “This was my second time attending, and what stood out the most was the creativity, effort and pride on display. Every booth brought something unique to the table while staying focused on safety.”
Duane McLane, SRNS senior vice president of environment, safety, health and quality, called the expo a great success.
“The Local Safety Improvement Teams volunteers, booths and attendance reaffirmed the commitment, involvement and dedication of our workforce to safety,” McLane said. “Thank you to all who volunteered and attended to keep safety the top priority at SRNS and the site.”
-Contributor: Fallan Flatow
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