The Central Plateau Cleanup Company (CPCCo), based in Richland, Washington, is a contractor to the U.S. Department of Energy which plays a pivotal role in the safe and effective cleanup of legacy nuclear waste at the Hanford Site, a decommissioned nuclear production facility. There, heat stress safety for workers is a critical issue. CPCCo, an Amentum-led partnership with Fluor and Atkins, manages site operations, facility deactivation, decommissioning, decontamination, demolition, waste-site remediation and transuranic waste management. Their mission centers on safely achieving near-term goals and reducing long-term risks while minimizing lifecycle costs.
The Challenge: Heat Stress Safety
One of the significant challenges CPCCo faces is ensuring the safety and well-being of their workforce, especially during taxing manual labor in hot weather conditions.
“Heat mitigation is critical at the Hanford Site, where workers perform physically demanding work daily, often in temperatures exceeding 90 degrees in the summer,” said EM Safety and Health Division Director for the Hanford Site, Stan Branch.
Environmental monitoring has been a key component, utilizing a Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) thermometer to monitor outdoor temperature and ambient air conditions. However, as technology evolved, so did CPCCo’s approach to worker safety.
In the past, CPCCo experimented with chest-worn physiological monitoring devices to keep track of their workers’ health in real time. Unfortunately, these devices were found to be cumbersome and not user-friendly, leading to the search for a better solution.
The Solution: SlateSafety
Recently, CPCCo has implemented SlateSafety’s innovative solution for physiological monitoring. This new system involves each worker wearing a BAND V2 device on their upper arm, allowing professionals to monitor their condition in real time via SlateSafety’s application. The BAND V2 monitors heart rate and core body temperature, relaying this information to safety personnel in real time. This technology serves as an early warning system to prevent heat stress-related injuries and illnesses.
Courtney Smith, OS&IH Program Manager at CPCCo, explained the process: “If a person reaches their trigger level, they will be notified on the band themselves. Then, the OS and IH professional or technician that is monitoring the device will be able to make a notification to pull that individual out of the field.”
The response from the workforce to the BAND V2 has been overwhelmingly positive. Workers have expressed a preference for this new device over previous monitoring units due to its enhanced comfort and ease of use. “The worker’s response has been really good. They prefer it over the previous units that we were using just because it’s more comfortable,” said Smith. This feedback highlights the importance of comfort and user-friendliness in safety equipment, especially in demanding and hazardous work environments.
CPCCo’s commitment to safety is underscored by their adherence to core principles, including the paramount importance of work practices. By investing in innovative solutions like SlateSafety’s BAND V2, CPCCo demonstrates its dedication to protecting its workforce while achieving its mission of environmental cleanup. This approach not only aligns with their core values but also supports their strategic goals such as reducing risk in the Central Plateau and optimizing site operations.
Connection to Oak Ridge
To ensure the effectiveness of the new monitoring technology, a team from Hanford traveled to Tennessee to observe the system firsthand at United Cleanup Oak Ridge (UCOR). In 2023, UCOR won the Verdantix EHS Innovation Excellence Award Americas 2023 for Safety Performance Improvement because of their use of the SlateSafety system. CPCCo and UCOR’s cross-site collaboration facilitated the decision to implement the BAND V2 at Hanford.
The Future
CPCCo’s implementation of SlateSafety’s physiological monitoring solution exemplifies their proactive approach to worker safety. By prioritizing the well-being of their employees, CPCCo not only ensures compliance with safety standards but also enhances overall productivity and mission success in the demanding field of nuclear waste cleanup.