Around 4,000 samples of water, soil and air from the Argonne site are collected each year by an environmental monitoring group in the Health, Safety and Environment division. These samples are then analyzed in an on-site laboratory for trends in their chemical and radioactive properties, all with the goal of studying the impact of Argonne’s activities on the environment.
Specialists in environmental monitoring and surveillance go out daily to collect the samples, and obtaining them is often no walk in the park. Between harsh weather conditions and the challenges of the local flora and fauna, the group’s safety measures must be extensive without reducing their work efficiency. Safety in the workplace is also a priority when working indoors. Analytical chemists analyze the samples in an in-house laboratory using many hazardous chemicals.
The Environmental Protection team has completed an impressive 73,000 person-hours since the last reportable injury in 2015, as well as approximately 130,000 person-hours since the last DART (“Days Away, Restricted or Transferred”) case in 2013. Work planning control documents and standard operating procedures guide the team members in what safety precautions to take for every type of task they may do, whether it is retrieving a water sample from a wasp-infested well, or getting a vehicle out of the mud after a rainy day in the field.
“The folks that work here aren’t afraid to call each other out on safety, or to suggest a safer way of doing things,” said Environmental Protection Manager Theresa Davis. “That’s where the rubber meets the road, looking out for your coworkers. You can have work planning control and standard operating procedures, but if nobody follows them or calls you on it, then they’re not really effective. It has to be a cultural thing.”
When collecting samples in rough terrain, the team members wear leather gloves and knee-high boots to protect them from thorns, clinging burrs and thick bushes. Stinging and biting insects also present a safety hazard, and the division has a wide range of personal protective equipment to prevent bites and disease contraction. When analyzing samples, safety glasses and a lab coat are required.
“We have suits made of netting that cover our faces from mosquitos. Sometimes it is too hot for the suit, though, so we have bug repellant that we spray on our clothing,” said Jenny Gomez, an environmental associate who collects samples several days in a week. In some parts of the site, the grass grows as tall, if not taller, than Jenny, and as the weather gets warmer, she is almost guaranteed to come back with at least one tick on her clothing.
Tick-borne illnesses are a concern for the division, especially with the recent rise of the rare and potentially life-threatening virus, Powassan. When new safety threats come up, the team has division-wide meetings about how to prevent injury and illness. Chief Medical Officer Jamie Stalker recently spoke to the division about new precautions to take in light of new information about Powassan. In response, permethrin-treated clothing has been purchased for outdoor use by the team.
“I have seen a significant improvement since wearing them,” said Steve Miller, environmental protection and sustainability specialist. In regards to investing in safety gear, Davis said, “The cost of safety equipment is pennies compared to the cost of having an accident.”
The Illinois winters and summers also present safety challenges. To protect themselves against heat, the team wears sunscreen, safety sunglasses and clothing with cooling effects. In the extreme cold and snow, they use spiked shoes, hand warmers and heavy coats and pants. “We have everything,” said Environmental Monitoring Specialist Jenni Tucker, “and preparing becomes so natural.”
Administrative Secretary Terri Schneider acts as traffic control for the team, keeping track of where people are and making sure they have what they need to do their jobs safely.
“It’s about reassurance that someone is looking out for you. And we also really encourage situational awareness in everything we do,” said Schneider.
[Image caption: Jenny Gomez, environmental associate, and John Dyer, radiochemistry analyst, collect groundwater samples near the 800 Area Landfill.]By Savannah Mitchem (CPA)