WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) today congratulated the managing contractors of three of its facilities for receiving awards from the Department of Energy Voluntary Protection Program (DOE-VPP) for promoting safety and health performance.
The Pantex Plant in Amarillo, Texas, and NSTec, which manages operations at the Nevada National Security Site, received Superior Star awards. Honeywell FM&T received the Star of Excellence award for operations at NNSA’s Kansas City Plant.
“These awards are a clear indication of NNSA’s commitment to safety,” said Don Cook, Deputy Administrator for Defense Programs. “I applaud the men and women throughout the enterprise for their continued outstanding safety record. I also commend all employees for their continued commitment to improving the way we do business while implementing President Obama’s nuclear security agenda.”
The Pantex Plant in Amarillo, Texas, was awarded the Superior Star award for being a leader in safety and health performance for achieving an injury and illness rate significantly below the average of similar businesses and operations. Pantex was also recognized for actively conducting outreach to other organizations. Currently, Pantex is mentoring the Y-12 National Security Complex to help it achieve VPP Star status.
NSTec, which manages operations at the Nevada National Security Site, received the Superior Star award for safety performance for the second consecutive year. The award recognizes DOE-VPP Star site contractors for achieving injury rates of at least 50 percent better than the industry average and contractors that continue to demonstrate outreach and mentoring to other facilities striving for VPP status. NSTec personnel supported three DOE-VPP on-site reviews and assisted the Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in conducting Special Government Employee certification courses.
Honeywell FM&T received the Star of Excellence award for the sixth time for operations at NNSA’s Kansas City Plant. In addition, Honeywell FM&T New Mexico Operations also received a Star of Excellence award. Earlier this year, the National Safety Council also recognized KCP’s outstanding safety record. The Kansas City Plant received the Million Hours Worked Award for working 4,347,101 hours without an occupational injury or illness resulting in days away from work. KCP’s Kirtland Operations in New Mexico also received the Perfect Record Award for two years without an occupational injury or illness resulting in days away from work.
The DOE-VPP program is designed to avoid reliance on health and safety statistics and recordkeeping alone to avoid any incentives for under-reporting and recording. To be eligible for recognition, each facility had to demonstrate through its annual report that it is using the annual self-assessment to establish challenging safety and health goals.
For more information about the VPP program see: http://www.hss.doe.gov/healthsafety/wsha/vpp/basics/basics.html [1]
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Established by Congress in 2000, NNSA is a semi-autonomous agency within the U.S. Department of Energy responsible for enhancing national security through the military application of nuclear science in the nation’s national security enterprise. NNSA maintains and enhances the safety, security, reliability, and performance of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile without nuclear testing; reduces the global danger from weapons of mass destruction; provides the U.S. Navy with safe and effective nuclear propulsion; and responds to nuclear and radiological emergencies in the U.S. and abroad.
