Vit Plant site reports lowest injury rate in project’s history in 2014
RICHLAND, Washington, September 16, 2015—The Department of Energy’s Voluntary Protection Program (DOE-VPP) awarded the Star of Excellence to Bechtel National, Inc. for its 2014 safety statistics and mentoring efforts at the Hanford Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant, also known as the Vit Plant. The Star of Excellence is the highest rank of the DOE-VPP annual achievement awards.
The Star of Excellence award is given to any site that achieves a rate of recordable injuries that is at least 75 percent below the Bureau of Labor Statistics national average for its industry. The site also must meet annual DOE-VPP goals and show strong involvement in mentoring and outreach. DOE presented the award at the 31st Annual Voluntary Protection Programs Participants’ Association National Conference.
“Safety is a core value in conducting our business,” said Bechtel’s Peggy McCullough, project director for the Vit Plant. “Our employees have done an excellent job taking ownership of their safety, as well as their co-workers’ safety, through grassroots, employee-developed programs. This recognition shows that our employees made a commitment to safety and are performing to that expectation.”
In 2014, the Vit Plant construction site reported its best safety performance to date with a total recordable case rate of 0.66. Vit Plant employees reported a lower rate for the third-consecutive year. For comparison, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported an average rate of 3.8 for the construction industry in 2013.
“The safety culture at the Vit Plant continues to improve as management and staff work together toward a common goal of zero accidents,” said McCullough.
About Bechtel:
Bechtel is among the most respected engineering, project management, and construction companies in the world. We stand apart for our ability to get the job done right—no matter how big, how complex, or how remote. Bechtel operates through four global business units that specialize in infrastructure; mining and metals; nuclear, security and environmental; and oil, gas, and chemicals. Since its founding in 1898, Bechtel has worked on more than 25,000 projects in 160 countries on all seven continents. Today, our 53,000 colleagues team with customers, partners, and suppliers on diverse projects in nearly 40 countries. www.bechtel.com
At Hanford, Bechtel is designing and building the world’s largest radioactive waste treatment plant for the U.S. Department of Energy at the Hanford Site in southeastern Washington state. The Waste Treatment Plant, also known as the Vit Plant, will immobilize the radioactive liquid waste stored in 177 underground tanks using a process called vitrification. www.hanfordvitplant.com.
###
News Release – Click the link below to download the official Bechtel news release.