Richland, Washington — The Department of Energy’s Office of River Protection (ORP) today recognized Bechtel National, Inc. (BNI) for its outstanding safety programs at the Hanford Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant project by awarding BNI Voluntary Protection Program Star Status.
The Voluntary Protection Program recognizes excellence in occupational safety and health protection for contractors at Department of Energy sites. Today’s ceremony signified BNI’s recertification as a Star Status site, the highest level of certification. BNI first achieved recognition as a Merit site in 2008 and gained Star status in 2010.
“We are pleased with the strides Bechtel continues to make in enhancing its safety culture at the construction site,” said Bill Hamel, ORP Assistant Manager for the plant, “from effective management and improved safety and health training to increased employee involvement.”
Peggy McCullough, BNI Project Director, said, “Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant employees have done an excellent job in taking ownership for their safety, as well as their coworkers’ safety through the employee-developed My Brother’s Keeper program. Looking out for each other on a large construction site is critical to achieving the level of safety we want and the Department of Energy expects.”
McCullough said employee safety is the number one goal for BNI. “Based on continued improvements in safety, it’s clear safety is equally important to workers, and it is something we can only achieve by working together.”
The Voluntary Protection Program was established in 1994 and is identical to the Occupational Health and Safety Administration Voluntary Protection Program, except that participation is open to contractors employed at Department of Energy-owned facilities.