Page 5 - SRNS Today March 2022
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4   |   SRNS TODAY   |   MARCH 2022                                                       MARCH 2022    |   SRNS TODAY   |   5

 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
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