Hanford Contractors Recognized for Safety Efforts

The three primary contractors for the Hanford Site’s Richland Operations Office have received national safety awards from the Voluntary Protection Program Participants Association, the Department of Energy announced on Tuesday. The VPP Star of Excellence was given to services contractor Mission Support Alliance (for both its HAMMER federal training site and its safeguards and security group), as well as cleanup contractors Washington Closure Hanford and CH2M Hill Plateau Remediation.  The Star of Excellence “is awarded to sites that go beyond the Star criteria and demonstrate excellence in outreach and mentoring efforts, along with exemplary employee involvement and management leadership related to VPP,” according to a DOE press release. CH2M Hill also received a Safety & Health Outreach Award for its After School Matters program. Kevin Schoonover from Mission Support Alliance received the VPPPA Safety & Health Achievement Program Award, which recognizes “non-managerial employees who have taken the initiative to learn and apply safety and health best practices,” the press release says.