Department of Energy Voluntary Protection Program Holds Safety+ Symposium Preconference Workshop and Recognizes Annual Award Recipients

In August 2024, the U.S. DOE-VPP recognized annual award recipients and promoted knowledge-sharing during the DOE preconference workshop at the Voluntary Protection Program Participants’ Association Safety+ Symposium in Aurora, CO.

Office of Environment, Health, Safety & Security

September 17, 2024
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Department of Energy Voluntary Protection Program Safety+ Symposium Preconference Workshop attendees

In August 2024, the U.S. Department of Energy Voluntary Protection Program (DOE-VPP) recognized annual award recipients and promoted knowledge-sharing during the DOE preconference workshop at the Voluntary Protection Program Participants’ Association Safety+ Symposium in Aurora, CO.

DOE-VPP participants shared a variety of presentations illustrating safety-related accomplishments, initiatives, and concepts with contractor peers and federal representatives during the DOE Day celebration. Alfred Traylor (Director, DOE Office of Worker Safety and Health Assistance) kicked off the DOE-VPP event by updating attendees on program changes and annual reporting good practices. Michelle Keever (United Cleanup Oak Ridge, LLC) provided a Safety Share emphasizing the value of sharing pertinent and accurate emergency contact information with first responders.

Eric Larson and Amanda Keyser (Triad National Security, LLC) led the contractor presentation slate with a personal story of focusing tragedy into determination to promote safety. Jennifer Scott, Michelle Hudson, Trisha Johnson, Jade Nealious, Brad Clark, Kristin Creed, Jodie Saverance, Ashley Allen, Daryl Butler, Curtis Crenshaw, and Brandon Heath (Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, LLC) shared an interactive and enthusiastic message of encouraging safety across generational gaps. Michelle Oates (Washington River Protection Solutions, LLC) and Laura Rosen (Central Plateau Cleanup Company, LLC) presented forward-thinking and timely considerations of the environmental and emergency management impacts of electric vehicle deployment. Chris Eich (United Cleanup Oak Ridge, LLC) described a ground-up approach to revamping a fall protection program to pursue best-in-class protections for workers. Aimee Gifford and Andy Foster (Central Plateau Cleanup Company, LLC) discussed challenges and successful practices of building safety culture and safe work practices with a new generation of workers. DOE contractor presentations concluded with Corey Hickman and Thomas Duncan (Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC) sharing success and good practices developed by Production Operations Safety Teams at the Y-12 National Security Complex. The DOE preconference event then transitioned to recognition of participant accomplishments during the prior year.

The DOE-VPP awards its contractor participants for maintaining injury and illness rates significantly lower than comparable industries, pursuing continuous excellence through effective goal setting, and serving as leaders among peers through outreach and mentoring. The DOE-VPP also recognized an individual Contractor Champion for outstanding contributions to the program. The 2024 DOE-VPP award recipients are as follows:

Contractor Champion

Richard “Tom” Perkes
United Cleanup Oak Ridge, LLC

Star of Excellence

Through their full dedication and total commitment to the principles of VPP, they have achieved an outstanding level of performance in meeting established safety and health goals, actively conducting outreach to others, and achieving an injury and illness rate significantly below the average of similar businesses and operations.

Battelle Savannah River Alliance, LLC
Savannah River National Laboratory
Savannah River Site, Aiken, SC

CH2M HILL BWXT West Valley, LLC
West Valley Demonstration Project
West Valley, NY

Facility Engineering Services - KCP, LLC
Kansas City National Security Campus
Kansas City, MO

Hanford Mission Integration Solutions, LLC
Safeguards and Security Contract
Hanford Site, Richland, WA

Idaho Environmental Coalition, LLC
Idaho Cleanup Project
Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho Falls, ID

Oak Ridge Associated Universities
Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education
Oak Ridge, TN

Salado Isolation Mining Contractors, LLC
Waste Isolation Pilot Plant
Carlsbad, NM

Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, LLC
Savannah River Site
Aiken, SC

Washington River Protection Solutions, LLC
Tank Operations Contract
Hanford Site, Richland, WA

Central Plateau Cleanup Company, LLC
Central Plateau Cleanup Contract
Hanford Site, Richland, WA

Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC
Y-12 National Security Complex
Oak Ridge, TN

Hanford Mission Integration Solutions, LLC
Mission Support Services Contract
Hanford Site, Richland, WA

Hanford Mission Integration Solutions, LLC
Volpentest Hazardous Materials Management and Emergency Response Federal Training Center
Hanford Site, Richland, WA

North Wind Dynamics, LLC
Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant
Piketon, OH

RSI-EnTech, LLC
Legacy Management Strategic Partner
DOE Office of Legacy Management, Multiple Sites

Savannah River Mission Completion, LLC
Savannah River Site Integrated Mission Completion Contract
Aiken, SC
United Cleanup Oak Ridge, LLC
Oak Ridge Cleanup Contract
Oak Ridge, TN

Waste Treatment Completion Company, LLC
Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant Project
Hanford Site, Richland, WA

Superior Star

A leader in safety and health performance, they have achieved a consistently superior level of performance in meeting established safety and health goals, actively conducting outreach to others, and achieving an injury and illness rate significantly below the average of similar businesses and operations.

Battelle Memorial Institute
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Richland, WA

Hanford Laboratory Management Integration, LLC
Hanford 222-S Laboratory
Hanford Site, Richland, WA

Fluor Federal Petroleum Operations, LLC
Strategic Petroleum Reserve, Bryan Mound Site
Freeport, TX

Mission Support and Test Services, LLC 
Nevada National Security Site
North Las Vegas, NV

The DOE-VPP promotes continuous improvement in safety culture and safe work practices through cooperative efforts by managers, employees, and bargaining units where applicable. More information on the DOE-VPP can be found here or you can contact the team at DOEVPP@doe.gov.

For more information contact Matthew Ramsey, Office of Worker Safety and Health Assistance. Department of Energy’s Voluntary Protection Program.

Tags:
  • Energy Efficiency
  • Emergency Response
  • Environmental and Legacy Management
  • Federal Facility Optimization and Management