Charlie McMillan: DOE Awards Los Alamos Nat’l Lab Employee Safety Efforts

The Energy Department has given Los Alamos National Laboratory the “Star” status under the Voluntary Protection Program, which evaluates DOE contractor measures in employee health and safety.

LANL said Wednesday the department also named Bethany Rich, former head of the lab’s VPP Program Office, as a DOE-VPP Champion nominee for her contributions to the program.

“Hazards are part of our everyday work and achieving VPP Star recognition validates the evolution of worker-manager partnerships in making our Laboratory safe,” said LANL Director Charlie McMillan.

McMillan said the lab’s integrated safety management system, strategic planning and worker safety and security organizations are part of larger efforts to support VPP.

LANL said the Star status recognition also considered an assessment of the work site, hazard prevention and control programs, safety and health training and the involvement of both management and employees.

DOE, National Nuclear Security Administration and LANL officials led a VPP Star flag-raising ceremony on Tuesday, the lab said.