Savannah River Contractor Surpasses 23 Years Without Missed Day Due to Injury

AIKEN, S.C. – The construction workforce for EM Savannah River Site liquid waste contractor Savannah River Remediation (SRR) has logged more than 23 years, or 34 million hours, of work without a missed day due to injury, an achievement dating back to operations performed under SRR’s heritage company, Washington Savannah River Company.

SRR Manager of Construction Randy Denelsbeck said the construction workforce relies on the company’s core values of safety, integrity, ownership, teamwork, and continuous improvement, as well as DOE’s Integrated Safety Management Policy, to promote positive behaviors and improve performance.

“The heart of SRR’s workforce is skilled labor led by qualified supervisors. Maintaining a great safety record instills pride in being part of an organization that protects its employees and keeps them safe at work,” Denelsbeck said. “I am always concerned when injuries occur, but I am more concerned about the injury we have not yet had, as prevention is the key to achieving zero incidents.”

SRR’s construction workforce conducts a range of tasks requiring teamwork. Many jobs are located on top of waste tanks or in processing rooms with operating equipment that has industrial and radioactive hazards. Employees focus on situational awareness and hazard identification because their work areas and associated hazards often change from day to day.

SRR has applied advanced technology and made safety improvements over the years, including updating personal protective equipment to include cut-resistant gloves, foam-lined safety glasses, and retractable fall protection.

The contractor’s Self-Awareness For Employees Team program, which includes participants from every craft, uses thousands of peer-to-peer engagements performed every month to produce trending data, allowing for quick responses to potential safety issues.