DOE Fines Contractor for Nuclear Safety Violations

Aug. 30, 2000
DOE proposed $1,045,000 in penalities against Lockheed Martin Energy Systems, operator of its Y-12 site in Oak Ridge, Tenn., for multiple violations of nuclear safety.

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The Department of Energy (DOE) cited Lockheed Martin Energy Systems (LMES), operator of its Y-12 site in Oak Ridge, Tenn., for multiple violations of nuclear safety requirements.

The proposed civil penalty of $1,045,000 would be the largest since the department''s Nuclear Safety Enforcement Program began in 1994 under the requirements of the Price-Anderson Amendments Act.

DOE''s investigation was initiated in January 2000 and determined that violations took place in the following areas:

  • The Dec. 8, 1999, explosion of sodium potassium liquid metal in the Alpha 5 facility that resulted in injury to 11 workers. Violations involved the contractor''s failure to identify and mitigate the explosive hazards associated with this material, despite a number of opportunities to do so.
  • Violations of criticality safety requirements and work process controls which resulted in DOE-ordered operational stand down on Nov. 5, 1999.
  • Significant deficiencies in the design, procurement and fabrication of the Hydrogen Fluoride Supply System, a critical system required for resumption of enriched uranium operators.
  • Numerous examples of violations occurring during the period July 1998 to December 1999 involving failure to adhere to Operational Safety Requirements.

Corrective actions have been taken by LMES in recent months, including replacement of some senior managers and a restructuring designed to make nuclear safety quality assurance more integrated into facility activities.

Other commitments made by LMES include effective management involvement and thorough monitoring of the effectiveness of these corrective actions.

A copy of the violation is available on the Internet at www.eh.doe.gov/enforce.

by Virginia Sutcliffe

About the Author

EHS Today Staff

EHS Today's editorial staff includes:

Dave Blanchard, Editor-in-Chief: During his career Dave has led the editorial management of many of Endeavor Business Media's best-known brands, including IndustryWeekEHS Today, Material Handling & LogisticsLogistics Today, Supply Chain Technology News, and Business Finance. In addition, he serves as senior content director of the annual Safety Leadership Conference. With over 30 years of B2B media experience, Dave literally wrote the book on supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Best Practices (John Wiley & Sons, 2021), which has been translated into several languages and is currently in its third edition. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at major trade shows and conferences, and has won numerous awards for writing and editing. He is a voting member of the jury of the Logistics Hall of Fame, and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.

Adrienne Selko, Senior Editor: In addition to her roles with EHS Today and the Safety Leadership Conference, Adrienne is also a senior editor at IndustryWeek and has written about many topics, with her current focus on workforce development strategies. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics. Previously she was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck?, which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list.

Nicole Stempak, Managing Editor:  Nicole Stempak is managing editor of EHS Today and conference content manager of the Safety Leadership Conference.

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