Hanford Contractor Addresses Employee Wellness and Mental Health

RICHLAND, Wash. – EM Office of River Protection tank operations contractor Washington River Protection Solutions (WRPS) is adding mental health awareness to its industrial safety and health conversation on the Hanford Site.

A small team of WRPS employees recently completed training on the “Question, Persuade, Refer” (QPR) Program that equips the workforce with mental health awareness and suicide prevention tools.

“This issue has affected me personally,” said Traci Pomrankey, WRPS human resources fieldwork supervisor. “Mental health and well-being are difficult issues that are important to talk about; everyone needs hope. The QPR training provides us with tools to identify people who may need help. We can reach out and connect with them, providing information for resources they might need.”

Suicide ranks among the leading causes of death in the U.S., and the construction industry faces an alarming suicide rate: nearly 2 ½ times higher than the average for other industries, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Science blog.

“Mental health and well-being will remain a focal point as we strive to enhance awareness and resources related to worker health and safety,” said Frank Sullivan, WRPS Environmental, Safety, Health & Quality division deputy manager. “We are providing these crucial tools to our workforce, emphasizing that mental health affects our lives daily. Through positive connections, we can offer hope and potentially save lives.”

In addition to creating the QPR Program and training, the WRPS Industrial Hygiene division provides its employees with mental health and well-being information and resources available through the Hanford Site’s occupational medical provider. These resources include access to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, which can be reached at 988 for 24/7 assistance, or online at 988lifeline.org.

-Contributor: Denise Mellene