Congratulations to Parsons and the Southern States Millwrights for their role in capturing an elite safety award from the United States Department of Energy (DOE).

The DOE awarded Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) Star status on the Salt Waste Processing Facility (SWPF). This is a facility within the DOE’s Nuclear Reservation Savannah River Site near Aiken, South Carolina. Parsons is the prime contractor on SWPF, designed to process the radioactive waste stored in underground tanks at the Savannah River site.

The $2.3 billion project, which is nearly completed, launched in June 2008 and has been a consistently safe and successful jobsite. About 20 Southern States Millwrights are providing welding, rigging, installation, and maintenance for the project.

Considered 93% complete at the end of 2015, the project has a recordable injury case rate 70% below the industry average over the life of the project, according to the Parsons web site. At one point, Savannah River Remediation Construction announced a major milestone of more than 26 million safe work hours and 15-plus years without a lost time injury.

Through the Voluntary Protection Program, the DOE recognizes excellence in worksite safety and health performance. Star status is the program’s highest rating. To qualify at the site level, a workplace must pass a rigorous inspection and demonstrate a commitment to employee protection that exceeds OSHA standards. Key strategies include weekly safety meetings and worker recognition incentive programs.    

Here's a great video about the People Behind the Project of the SRS Salt Waste Processing Facility.