The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management and its cleanup contractor at the Idaho National Laboratory Site prioritize safety in all facets of their work, a commitment recently on display as employees deployed new tools to address the challenges of aging equipment and protect the physical well-being of the workforce.
Office of Environmental Management
October 8, 2024
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IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management (EM) and its cleanup contractor at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) Site prioritize safety in all facets of their work, a commitment recently on display as employees deployed new tools to address the challenges of aging equipment and protect the physical well-being of the workforce.
The Idaho Environmental Coalition (IEC) Life Safety System team is responsible for maintaining and inspecting over 470 critical water-safety systems at its facilities. These systems include fire hydrants and valves used for automatic sprinkler systems, emergencies and connecting individual buildings to main water lines.
Many of these systems are over 70 years old, and during recent routine inspections, the team identified a significant ergonomic risk for employees performing the manual labor required to complete the inspections.
“The maintenance of these underground systems is a critical task that becomes increasingly challenging, both physically and technically, as the equipment ages and becomes harder to operate,” IEC Life Safety Systems Supervisor Dean Clark said.
Life Safety Systems employees, including Jordan Harker, use specialized tools to maintain and inspect critical water-safety systems like fire hydrants across the Idaho National Laboratory Site.
This portable hydrant and gate valve exerciser has allowed crews to more safely and efficiently maintain essential life safety systems at the Idaho National Laboratory Site.
With an understanding of the potential strain on the workforce, the team recommended the purchase of new tools.
For example, some of the water-safety systems require as many as 30 turns each way to open and close. One of the specialized tools is designed to aid in that process by performing the turns.
Clark says that tool, called a portable hydrant and gate valve exerciser, significantly reduces the physical effort required to complete the task and decreases risk of injury. The application of the new equipment also improves overall efficiency by allowing the workforce to complete maintenance at a quicker pace.
“By investing in this new equipment, we are not only safeguarding the well-being of our employees, but also ensuring our critical systems remain in optimal working condition,” Clark said. “The Life Safety System team’s foresight and dedication to both safety and efficiency embody our commitment to maintaining a healthy, productive workforce and reliable infrastructure.”
-Contributor: Carter Harrison
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