![Laboratory Director Michael Anastasio recently distributed shirts to the Worker Safety and Security Team members, which were purchased by himself and Dick Watkins. Anastasio said the Lab's success is tied to employees and that [employees] are the heart of the institution. Safety and security is part of what we do, not in addition to it, he said.](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090117130112/http://www.lanl.gov/news/albums/safety/Anastasio_032607.jpg)
The Laboratory has established a Voluntary Protection Program office in the Environment, Safety, Health and Quality Associate Directorate (ADESH&Q). The program is modeled after the Department of Energy’s Voluntary Protection Program, which promotes excellence in occupational safety and worker health across the complex.
Twenty-five years ago, the Occupational Health and Safety Administration established VPP to demonstrate excellence in worker health and safety, and reward institutions that go beyond mere compliance. More than 1,800 sites currently have a VPP.
VPP participants develop and implement systems to effectively identify, evaluate, prevent, and control occupational hazards to prevent employee injuries and illnesses. As a result, the average VPP worksite has a lost-workday-incidence rate at least 50 percent below the average.
Laboratory officials have committed to implement the program in three years, ensuring that existing programs and operations meet the VPP goals. Using data such as safety trends and analysis, self-assessments, and continual improvement processes, the Laboratory will apply for VPP recognition in 2009. Laboratory Director Michael Anastasio is the Voluntary Protection Program champion.
Key to the program’s success is fostering a safe work environment through worker involvement. To facilitate the employee involvement goal, Anastasio established an institutional employee team called the Worker Safety and Security Team (WSST). This team replaced the Director’s Central Safety and Security Committee. Unlike the DCSSC, the WSST is led by front-line workers versus senior managers.
Subteams at the associate director and division levels are being established, and the structure will eventually roll down to the group level so that every worker gets personally involved in the operations and decisions that affect employee health, safety, and security.
Anastasio is the WSST champion. Dick Watkins, associate director for ESH&Q and Paul Sowa, associate director for safeguards and security (ADSS) are cosponsors. Felicia Taw of Inorganic Isotope and Actinide Chemistry (C-IIAC) is the chairperson, and Janine Fales of Weapons Engineering Technology (WT) is the vice-chair.
There are four other core goals of the Voluntary Protection Program:
• Management Leadership
• Worksite Analysis
• Hazard Prevention and Control
• Health and Safety Training.
To address the Management Leadership goal, Associate Directorates, KSL Services, and Protection Technology Los Alamos all have two of their workers on the WSST.
Some of the work being conducted in support of the goals of Worksite Analysis and Hazard Prevention and Control includes efforts in the Integrated Work Management (IWM) process and 10 CFR 851 preparations.
The final area of VPP is Health and Safety Training. The Laboratory needs to ensure that managers and employees fully understand the policies, rules and procedures established to prevent exposure to hazards. Performance Based Leadership (PBL) training and Human Performance Improvement (HPI) training for all workers covers much of the required knowledge for this goal. Additional behavior based systems also will address many of the requirements.
Additional benefits of the program may include improved employee morale, fewer noncompliance findings, improved communication between management and employees, increased productivity, and decreased worker compensation costs.
A VPP Steering Committee has been chartered and is chaired by Jay Johnson (PADOPS). Other committee members include Jerry Ethridge (ADISS), Carolyn Mangeng (ADEP), Bethany Rich (VPP Office Lead), Taw, Susan Seestrom (ADEPS), and Dick Watkins (ADESH&Q).
