At the National Nuclear Security Administration's Y-12 National Security Complex, safety is a core value. It is at the heart of all worked performed and the complex.  It was the first item addressed when BWXT Y-12 took over management of the Y-12 Complex.
"From day-one, safety has been at the forefront of everything we do. We begin and end each meeting with a minute to discuss safety. We have held two Safety Expositions and encouraged all employees, as well as the public, to attend and learn about safety while having some fun at the same time, " said Les Reed, director of environment, safety and health at Y-12.
That emphasis on safety has already paid dividends. As a result of this over arching emphasis on safety, Y-12 has posted its lowest injury rate in a decade.
We identified technology that can help keep our employees, our environment and our community safer, we have conducted safety leadership training for all supervisors and managers, we have created a rolling safety focus program that empowers all employees to create solutions for safety issues in their workplace. At Y-12, safety is an action word," Reed said.
Here are some highlights of BWXT Y-12's recent safety accomplishments:
- Injury rates at a 10-year low. The Department of Energy (DOE) Safety Index rate is at a six-year low. Fiscal Year (FY) 2002 lost away workdays for bargaining unit personnel were reduced by more than 55 percent from the previous year. "This dramatic reduction can be traced to the implementation of specific improvement actions completed in partnership with the ATLC," Reed said.
- A new hazard assessment tool has been implemented. The Automated Job Hazard Analysis. (AJHA) is a major component of Y-12's work control system and is fostering greater employee input into our work planning process while improving the quality of our hazard control. From the AJHA tool, the team can access hazardous inventories, facility-specific hazards and controls, and monitoring results.
- The second annual Safety Expositions more than 7,000 participants. More than 400 people were involved in planning of the second annual Y-12 Safety Expo in October 2002, with some 7,000 attendees. There were 120 safety exhibitors, 41 of which were
Y-12 employees. The remaining exhibitors came from businesses throughout Tennessee. In a demonstration of support, the City of Oak Ridge proclaimed the day of the Expo as "Safety Day" for the city.
- More than 240,000 square feet of radiological contamination area was cleaned and downposted. "This improvement has resulted in significant cost savings while helping to eliminate the risk of personnel contamination," Reed said.
- The Atomic Trades and Labor Council, which represents most of Y-12's unionized workers, developed and administered their own safety recognition program. The ATLC accepted the opportunity to plan and administer their own safety recognition program for FY 2002. In addition to developing the program, ATLC leadership communicated it to all ATLC members, routinely checked the status of performance against goals, and most importantly, implemented several safety initiatives to improve performance and achieve their goal.
- Every BWXT Y-12 employee was empowered with Stop Work Authority. As a result, every BWXT Y-12 employee has the authority to stop work should an unsafe act or condition be observed. "The consistent reinforcement of this authority by the president and general manager of Y-12 has resulted in an increase in willingness by the employees to help ensure work is being performed safely," Reed said.
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