Savannah River Site Springs Into Safety at First Onsite Expo in a Decade

Employees from across the 310-square-mile Savannah River Site engage in all aspects of safety and security through interactive games and discussions at the Safety Expo.

AIKEN, S.C. — Nearly 4,000 members of the Savannah River Site (SRS) federal and contractor workforce recently attended the annual two-day Safety Expo, held onsite for the first time in over a decade.

Nearly 80 booths offered information about workplace safety, environmental stewardship, personal health and local community services. Among them were 23 interactive booths hosted by Local Safety Improvement Teams, which serve as a management-worker communication bridge and foster worker involvement to achieve the goal of zero injuries.

Through games, quizzes and other activities, employees reviewed critical safety and security principles while having fun.

“Hosting the expo onsite for the first time in a long time not only increased accessibility but also provided employees with meaningful opportunities to engage with important resources, making this year’s event an outstanding success,” said Duane McLane, senior vice president of environment, safety, health and quality for U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management contractor Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS), which sponsored the event.

Jaylon Tharp, an SRNS software engineer, volunteered for the expo and enjoyed the opportunity to interact with individuals from across the 310-square-mile site.

“As a first-time attendee, I valued the chance to engage with the various booths and organizations to further understand the work they do to support the site’s missions, especially in terms of safety,” Tharp said. “The experience was both informative and rewarding, and I look forward to attending again in the future.”

In addition to a vibrant atmosphere, the event featured plenty of food. Vendors set up food trucks, and a food drive gathered donations to assist the local community.

“I want to thank everyone who worked so hard to make this year’s Safety Expo a success,” said Health and Safety Manager Lea Simons, who also served as the expo’s planning lead. “The expo is the result of months of dedication and teamwork from our planning teams, who continuously strive to deliver an informative and engaging experience for everyone. Their commitment and collaborative spirit truly reflect our values at SRS, and I couldn’t be more proud of what we accomplished together.”

-Contributor: Fallan Flatow