Parsons' Salt Waste Processing Facility Earns DOE VPP Merit Award
Dr. David Moody, DOE-Savannah River operations manager, presented a Merit certificate of achievement and a VPP Merit flag to Parsons employees at the SWPF construction site on Aug. 6.
The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded Parsons, the Salt Waste Processing Facility contractor at the Savannah River Site in Aiken, S.C., its Voluntary Protection Program Merit award for its commitment to ensuring employee safety. The department's Savannah River Operations Office announced the award Aug. 7.
The Salt Waste Processing Facility (SWPF) is a key component of DOE's commitment to reduce environmental risk at SRS by removing, treating, and disposing of radioactive waste stored in underground tanks. VPP, denoting excellence in work site safety and health management, will be celebrated Aug. 26-29 – all of its programs, including OSHA's, DOE's and those operated by state plans -- at the 29th Annual National VPPPA Conference in Nashville, Tenn.
Founded in 1944, Parsons is an engineering, construction, technical, and management services firm based in Pasadena, Calif. The VPP Merit award is based on the company’s excellent performance in meeting safety and health goals and its commitment to VPP standards; the Parsons SWPF construction craft recordable injury rate for 2012 was less than one-third of the construction industry average.
"Achieving VPP status exemplifies Parsons' dedication to upholding safety as a priority at SRS," said Dr. David Moody, DOE-Savannah River operations manager. "They have instilled the mindset in their employees that performing work safely is always the most important aspect of your job."
Moody presented a Merit certificate of achievement and a VPP Merit flag to Parsons employees at the SWPF construction site on Aug. 6 to signify their accomplishment.
"The Parsons SWPF project team holds safety as a core value," said Lou Jackson, Parsons senior vice president and project manager. "To that end, we are committed to the VPP safety and health principles. I am very proud of the SWPF project team for earning such a significant safety award."
Tammy Skinner, an ironworker and the lead for the SWPF Employee Safety Committee, attended the presentation and said she is "looking forward to the facility achieving VPP STAR status, the highest level of recognition."