DOE: NSTec’s Chemical Workplace Hazard Assessments “Ineffective”

National Security Technologies (NSTec), the contractor that manages and operates the Nevada National Security Site and the Remote Sensing Laboratory, faces chemical workplace hazard identification challenges, the Department of Energy’s Office of Enterprise Assessments said in an enforcement letter released last week. The letter cites "an incident involving a worker exposure to n-propyl bromide" at the Remote Sensing Laboratory at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada that "suggests a lack of management attention to the hazards of chemical products entering the workplace." It notes that NSTec "did not assess worker exposure to chemical workplace hazards as often as necessary" and did not provide adequate training to employees "on the use of the Branson ultrasonic degreaser and degreasing solvent" involved in the chemical exposure incident.  

 

According to the letter, the incident "demonstrated a lack of (or ineffective) worker exposure assessment to chemical hazards through workplace monitoring as well as ineffective pre-job briefings to prepare workers for the assigned tasks." NSTec said in an emailed statement, "We appreciate that the Office of Enforcement elected to issue an Enforcement Letter, rather than pursuing more formal enforcement processes. We are confirming that our corrective actions are fully addressing the conditions associated with this incident, and will expand them as necessary to ensure the safety of our workforce."