Hanford, Washington — Earlier this month, the Department of Energy awarded the Voluntary Protection Program’s (VPP) “Superior” Star to Bechtel National, Inc.’s Waste Treatment Plant Project. This is the second year BNI has received this recognition. One of the ways in which DOE recognizes excellence in safety is through its VPP, which identifies contractors who meet the requirements for outstanding safety and health programs.
The VPP has three levels of recognition; Star, Merit and Demonstration. Contractors whose programs meet the requirements for outstanding safety and health programs receive Star recognition. BNI’s WTP Project received Star status in 2011.
The Superior Star award is given to Star VPP sites that demonstrate the effective use of challenging goals, as well as significant mentoring and community outreach efforts, and have recordable incident injury rates that are 50 percent better than the average of other U.S. businesses in the same industry.
“DOE recognizes the strong safety performance exemplified by Vit Plant employees,” said Office of River Protection Manager Scott Samuelson. That commitment to safety ensures workers go home at the end of the day in the same condition they arrived.”
The WTP Project employs more than 2,500 staff, tasked with designing and building a high complex nuclear and chemical waste processing facility to immobilize Hanford’s tank waste in a sturdy glass form for long-term storage. The Department’s VPP promotes safety and health excellence through cooperative efforts among labor, management, and government at the Department contractor sites. DOE has also formed partnerships with other Federal agencies and the private sector for both advancing and sharing its VPP experiences and preparing for program challenges in the next century. The safety and health of contractor and federal employees are a high priority for the Department.
The Department initiated its VPP in January 1994 to promote improved safety and health performance through public recognition of outstanding programs. DOE-VPP also includes coverage of radiation protection/nuclear safety and emergency management because of the type and complexity of DOE facilities. Similar to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA’s) VPP program, DOE-VPP provides several proven benefits to participating sites, including improved labor/management relations, reduced workplace injuries and illnesses, increased employee involvement, improved morale, reduced absenteeism, and public recognition.