Page 4 - SRNS Today March 2022

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Business is booming in SRS’ K Area Complex Site Medical nurse

Recent infrastructure modernization and upgrades prepare complex for upcoming missions receives award

The K Area Complex (KAC) nuclear material management facility
is undergoing a large number of infrastructure projects at an for lifesaving action
unprecedented pace to improve the capabilities and flexibility of
KAC and its employees and prepare for upcoming missions. Major
infrastructure work is ongoing to support expanded plutonium SRNS nurse Bre Morris was recently bestowed a Fluor Silver Medallion
downblending operations and prepare for the installation of three Award at an SRNS President’s Safety Council meeting for taking
new Surplus Plutonium Disposition (SPD) project gloveboxes, and the lifesaving action to save the life of a fellow Site employee.
additional personnel who will operate them. Morris, who is a nurse with the Site Medical organization, was conducting
“SRS is committed to helping the Department of Energy advance routine medical surveillance testing on an SRS employee. The Bre Morris was bestowed the Fluor Silver Medallion for demonstrating the core
its mission of removing plutonium from the state of South Carolina,” Recent infrastructure modernization and upgrades are helping to prepare the appointment started out as any normal surveillance testing appointment values of SRNS safety culture by having a questioning attitude, assessing the
said Lee Sims, SRNS K Area Facility Manager. “Most of our facilities K Area Complex at SRS for upcoming missions. would, until the employee made a comment to Morris that caught her situation and taking decisive action to save the life of a fellow employee.
are approximately 70 years old, including the decommissioned K attention. The employee said to her that they felt discomfort in their neck A few days later, the employee called Site Medical to arrange a Site
Reactor facility where most nuclear material storage and processing Facility Modifications and felt the discomfort was just a pinched nerve that they had felt in the Medical Physician teleconference to discuss their health situation.
activities occur. We are working to modernize and upgrade our To improve downblended plutonium storage and processing safety past. Morris persisted in asking if the employee was okay when they During the call, the employee expressed their gratitude for Morris’
facilities to increase efficiencies, ensure safety, and maximize and efficiency, KAC is making modifications to the K Reactor Facility stated they were now having chest pain as well. quick response to their comment, noting that she saved their life. The
productivity. A little investment in infrastructure now will go a long to make room for the new MAA ECF and support facilities. These Quickly identifying the symptoms of a potential heart attack, Morris employee went on to explain that once at the hospital, they quickly
way to ensure a successful future.” modifications include cutting concrete walls and slabs that were once transitioned the employee from surveillance testing to an EKG where learned that there was a 90% blockage in the left main artery of the
part of reactor fuel storage racks. It will involve many different SRS she noticed an abnormality. She immediately contacted the Site Medical heart, a condition that is commonly referred to as a “widow maker.”
Making Room departments and careful planning to achieve. Nurse Practitioner to report the situation and called the SRS Fire The employee was so thankful for Morris’ actions that they stated that
In the next several years, KAC will increase its number of employees “K Area is where Department of Energy-Environmental Management Department to transport the employee to a local hospital by ambulance. they wanted to return to Site Medical to personally thank her, when they
from approximately 330 to near 660 to keep up with changing and the National Nuclear Security Administration missions meet, “As soon as the EKG started, the monitor immediately showed an were physically able to make the visit.
missions.
and we stand ready to work as a team with our customers to fulfill unusual pattern. I knew that we could very well be in a dangerous Morris may be a trained medical professional, but her actions
“Our team recognized early on that increased plutonium downblend the mission objectives,” Sims said. “With all of this activity going situation and that the patient needed to be under EMS care and on the demonstrated a level of careful attention and swift action when minutes
processing would mean significantly more employees showing up at on in the area, it will take the focus and commitment of all of our road to a hospital,” said Morris. mattered most. “Bre’s quick response during what she thought would
the Entry Control Facilities (ECFs) during shift changes,” said K Area employees to ensure the highest standards of safety and security. She continued, “As a nurse, I can’t stress enough how important it is for be a routine test is an excellent example of just how quickly conditions
Deputy Facility Manager Amanda Barnes. “The lines to get through But I truly believe we are up to the task.” symptoms of a heart attack to be taken seriously. The signs that we feel can change and even become life threatening,” said Rick Sprague,
would start backing up and waste a lot of worker time.” To improve Virginia Kay, NNSA Office of Material Disposition, is pleased with all or may observe in others could give us just enough time to act to make SRNS Senior Vice President Environment, Safety, Health and Quality.
this, NNSA has funded projects to build an additional ECF into the of the infrastructure work going on in the area and is excited to see sure the people we care about survive. I am just relieved that the patient “Her response to changing conditions demonstrates the level of careful
Protected Area and build a larger more efficient ECF into the Material the future of the KAC. “K Area is an integral part of the Department’s didn’t ignore what they were feeling and spoke up so I could help. It attention we all should strive to achieve in our day-to-day lives, at work
Access Area (MAA) to facilitate personnel flow. and at home.”
nonproliferation and environmental cleanup missions,” she said. “The takes courage sometimes to say out loud that something feels off. I am
“We have also completed installation and hook-up of nine new trailers K Reactor was initially built for national security missions during the so thankful the employee was here in medical that day and the events The Fluor Silver Medallion is a distinguished award given to employees
to add additional office spaces and restroom facilities for the current Cold War. Although it is no longer an operating reactor, the facility unfolded like they did so they could receive the help they needed to be who act in a lifesaving manner and assist others in distress, either on or
employees and the influx of employees to come.” continues to support national security missions today.” able to go home safely to their family.” off the job.

SRTE corrective maintenance reduction AHA recognition for Workplace Health Achievement

The Savannah River Tritium Enterprise (SRTE) achieved a major Jill O’Donnell, SRNS SRTE Maintenance Manager. “When we began this SRNS has achieved national Silver Level successful campaign in 2021 – and for the first year ever –
reduction in its corrective maintenance (CM) backlog, meeting the initiative, we found a number of items in our backlog were either ready or recognition by the American Heart SRNS was the number one contributing company out of the 59 in
goal set for maintenance organizations across SRS nearly a year nearly ready with no schedule date. Our WWMs and discipline schedulers Association (AHA) 2021 Workplace the CSRA.
early and exceeding the goal a year later. This is significant because have been working with the facilities to get those activities pulled into the Health Achievement Index. The national “We are proud to achieve this recognition from the American
CM backlog is an indicator of the general health of facilities. schedule and completed or canceled if no longer needed.” Silver Level recognition is awarded to Heart Association for prioritizing the health and well-being of our
Corrective maintenance is repairing broken equipment. In October A higher CM backlog means a higher number of out-of-service systems, companies who have taken significant employees,” said SRNS President and CEO Stuart MacVean. “We
2019, SRNS maintenance organizations set a goal to achieve a 25% equipment or components. This limits facility capabilities and can impede steps to build a culture of health and well- are committed to supporting the physical and mental well-being of
reduction in CM backlog by the end of October 2021. SRTE achieved meeting customer requirements. The more corrective maintenance is being for their workforce. our workforce and promoting professional and personal growth.”
this 25% CM backlog reduction in December 2020, nearly a year in deferred, the costlier it becomes to repair broken equipment. A lower SRNS is one of more than 450 nationwide organizations that SRNS employees hosted events and fundraisers for the 2022
advance. Reduction efforts continued, and in October 2021, SRTE CM backlog is an indication of healthier facilities, which are safest and completed the 2021 Index assessment. SRNS AHA Heart Walk Campaign, striving to reach their $130,000
achieved a 44% reduction, besting the 25% goal. run most efficiently when equipment is in good condition. Additionally, SRNS has a strong history of supporting the local CSRA AHA Heart goal. This year’s CSRA Heart Walk was held on March 12 at SRP
“Our Work Window Managers (WWMs) have been diligently working operators do less workarounds, decreasing the potential for accidents Walk and helping raise awareness about cardiovascular disease Park in North Augusta.
to dig into the backlog and lock in more tasks each week,” said and error. and stroke during the annual Heart Walk campaigns. After a widely