Collaboration: WIPP Explores Apprenticeships at SRS Before Building Its Own

At far right, BooBoo Roberts, Savannah River Nuclear Solutions Apprenticeship School program manager, shares the “Radiological Worker 2” course requirement for nuclear operators with representatives from the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant. In the course, apprentices learn how to properly dress to safely perform work in radiological areas.

One EM site shares best practices with another to build future workforce

AIKEN, S.C. — Representatives from the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) recently toured the acclaimed Apprenticeship School at the Savannah River Site (SRS) as they look to launch a similar program to help fill critical positions for the underground waste repository in New Mexico.

Launched in 2020 by U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management contractor Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS), the Apprenticeship Program was designed to address attrition and establish a robust pipeline for a skilled workforce. The school has graduated over 800 apprentices to date, with 90% of them accepting full-time positions at SRS.

“To meet the growing workforce demands to support our site missions, SRNS plans to hire 2,000 additional employees over the next five years,” said Booboo Roberts, SRNS program manager, Apprenticeship School and Pipeline Programs. “The SRS Apprenticeship Program offers three pathways — youth, key skilled technician, and professional and degree-based — to create a pipeline of skilled employees supporting critical missions for the Department of Energy and the National Nuclear Security Administration.”

Inspired by a presentation at the Waste Management conference in March, WIPP sought to benchmark the SRS model to create a similar program for electricians and nuclear operators in southeastern New Mexico.

“We struggle to fill critical job needs due to our remote location and competition with oil and gas companies,” said Denis Asay, deputy vice president of Performance Improvement, Salado Isolation Mining Contractors, the WIPP management and operations contractor. “We aim to launch our apprenticeship program within a year, using the SRS Apprenticeship School as a guide. The collaboration and example set by this team demonstrates what the entire DOE complex should strive for. Such partnerships can only make us stronger."

Angela Carrejo, left, human resource generalist with Salado Isolation Mining Contractors (SIMCO), and Denis Asay, vice president, Performance Improvement, SIMCO, inspect radiological containment areas during a tour of the 766-H Training Facility at the Savannah River Site. Apprentices who work in containment areas at SRS are required to complete a course on this subject.

The two-day visit by the WIPP team began with a site tour that included a briefing on the 766-H Training Facility. Apprentices receive instruction and hands-on training at the facility.

“The tour offered a firsthand look at the training and infrastructure that supports our apprentices,” said Kevin Whitt, SRNS director of Operational Excellence and Quality Assurance. “By integrating hands-on training and classroom education, both here and at our partner colleges, we provide our apprentices the tools they need to thrive in their new roles. We are proud to share our lessons learned to benefit others across the complex.”

The second day of the visit focused on the importance of community partnerships, which provide apprentices paid, on-the-job training and networking opportunities to help them succeed in highly technical fields. SRS partners with Denmark Technical College, Aiken Technical College, Augusta Technical College, and economic development agencies like the Lower Savannah Council of Governments, Apprenticeship Carolina and the SRS Community Reuse Organization.

“One major takeaway is the critical importance of clear communication between SRNS and educational partners to ensure curriculum and training align with industry needs, particularly in nuclear deterrence and nonproliferation,” said Dorian Newton, SRNS director of Site Training.

Since its inception, the SRS Apprenticeship School has gained national recognition. For example, the school was honored with the 2023 A. Wade Martin Innovation Team of the Year Award from the South Carolina Technical College System Foundation, and it was featured on National Public Radio’s “Marketplace Morning Report.”

“The Savannah River team was incredibly gracious, and their hospitality made the visit worthwhile. This top-notch program has us excited to adopt and implement some of these strategies at WIPP over the next year,” Asay said.

-Contributor: Mackenzie McNabb