(25c) Implementing a Culture of Safety and Operations Excellence at Newport Chemical Demilitarization Facility (NECDF)

The Newport Chemical Agent Disposal Facility (NECDF) is a one-of-a-kind, state of the art neutralization facility designed to destroy the Chemical Agent, VX. VX is a rapid acting lethal nerve agent that was produced in the 1960s at the Newport Chemical Depot in Indiana. Parsons was contracted by the Chemical Materials Agency to design, construct, and operate the facility to process over 1600 ton containers stored at the facility. As of August 8, 2008, Parsons completed the site mission to safely destroy 100% of the chemical agent stockpile, eliminating a potential terrorist threat and helping our nation achieve international treaty goals..

NECDF experienced a negative safety trend in late 2006 through early 2007. Injuries were not agent related, but ranged from strains and sprains to lacerations. This trend began to reverse in mid-2007, as site management began implementation of a Safety Management System that consists of programs such as the Employee Based Safety Program., the Management Observation Program, Human Performance Improvement Program, and NECDF Absolutes.

After successful implementation of these initiatives, NECDF went from having the worst Recordable Injury Rate amongst the active Chemical Demilitarization Sites to the best in less than a year. NECDF has also been acknowledged twice by the National Safety Council for achieving one million safe work hours without a lost workday incident for the last two years. Recent statistics indicate that this trend is increasingly positive with no first aid injuries for the month of September 2008.

This paper will outline the NECDF Safety Management System, describe the events that created the negative safety trend, and describe the initiatives implemented to reduce injuries at the facility.