Department of Energy Voluntary Protection Program Holds Safety+ Symposium Preconference Workshop and Recognizes Annual Award Recipients

In August 2024, the U.S. Department of Energy Voluntary Protection Program (DOE-VPP) recognized annual award recipients and promoted knowledge-sharing during the DOE preconference workshop at the Voluntary Protection Program Participants' Association Safety+ Symposium in Aurora, CO.

DOE-VPP participants shared a variety of presentations illustrating safety-related accomplishments, initiatives, and concepts with contractor peers and federal representatives during the DOE Day celebration. Alfred Traylor (Director, DOE Office of Worker Safety and Health Assistance) kicked off the DOE-VPP event by updating attendees on program changes and annual reporting good practices. Michelle Keever (United Cleanup Oak Ridge, LLC) provided a Safety Share emphasizing the value of sharing pertinent and accurate emergency contact information with first responders.

Eric Larson and Amanda Keyser (Triad National Security, LLC) led the contractor presentation slate with a personal story of focusing tragedy into determination to promote safety. Jennifer Scott, Michelle Hudson, Trisha Johnson, Jade Nealious, Brad Clark, Kristin Creed, Jodie Saverance, Ashley Allen, Daryl Butler, Curtis Crenshaw, and Brandon Heath (Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, LLC) shared an interactive and enthusiastic message of encouraging safety across generational gaps. Michelle Oates (Washington River Protection Solutions, LLC) and Laura Rosen (Central Plateau Cleanup Company, LLC) presented forward-thinking and timely considerations of the environmental and emergency management impacts of electric vehicle deployment. Chris Eich (United Cleanup Oak Ridge, LLC) described a ground-up approach to revamping a fall protection program to pursue best-in-class protections for workers. Aimee Gifford and Andy Foster (Central Plateau Cleanup Company, LLC) discussed challenges and successful practices of building safety culture and safe work practices with a new generation of workers. DOE contractor presentations concluded with Corey Hickman and Thomas Duncan (Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC) sharing success and good practices developed by Production Operations Safety Teams at the Y-12 National Security Complex. The DOE preconference event then transitioned to recognition of participant accomplishments during the prior year.

The DOE-VPP awards its contractor participants for maintaining injury and illness rates significantly lower than comparable industries, pursuing continuous excellence through effective goal setting, and serving as leaders among peers through outreach and mentoring. The DOE-VPP also recognized an individual Contractor Champion for outstanding contributions to the program. The 2024 DOE-VPP award recipients are as follows:

Contractor Champion

Richard "Tom" Perkes
United Cleanup Oak Ridge, LLC

Star of Excellence

Through their full dedication and total commitment to the principles of VPP, they have achieved an outstanding level of performance in meeting established safety and health goals, actively conducting outreach to others, and achieving an injury and illness rate significantly below the average of similar businesses and operations.