West Valley’s Behind-the-Scenes Team is Critical to Cleanup, Especially in Pandemic

WEST VALLEY, N.Y. – A typical day for the surveillance and maintenance crew at EM’s West Valley Demonstration Project (WVDP) might begin with cleaning and sanitizing common areas and end with fixing a door, moving offices, changing a light bulb, or operating a tractor.

The team’s main responsibility is to sanitize common spaces like breakrooms, and deep clean target areas to help protect colleagues from the spread of COVID-19. The site also purchased new sanitizers, including the handheld variety, for better protection of the workforce.

“The work this team does helps keep everyone safe and allows us to continue our cleanup mission,” said Dave Smith, surveillance and maintenance manager for WVDP cleanup contractor CH2M HILL BWXT West Valley (CHBWV). “I’m proud to work with this team of dedicated men and women who continue to prove that every action taken, whether big or small, can have a huge impact on people’s lives.”

The crew also performs site maintenance, landscaping, and snow and trash removal.

“What we do allows everyone to come to work safely and go home to their families at the end of the day,” team member Dennis Sullivan said. “It’s a great feeling to know that what you do does make a difference.”

Crew member Jennifer Kessler noted that the variety of tasks keeps work interesting.

“Not only do we wear a different hat four days a week, but we can also wear multiple hats each day,” Kessler said. “Everything we do has a positive impact on the WVDP team as well as the site. That’s what motivates us.”

The crew accomplishes most of its tasks when employees are not in their offices or at work sites.

“It is the work performed behind the scenes that makes sure the trash cans are empty, broken light bulbs are changed, and areas are cleaned and sanitized,” Smith said.