Jason Dunkin (NWM) received a Gold Spot Award in December 2016 for taking precautions and communicating his concern about the integrity of a chemical waste container before it was transported for disposal. His quick thinking prevented any potential for a chemical incident.
During a scheduled chemical waste pick up, Dunkin was preparing to transfer chemical waste containers for processing and disposal. He noticed a buildup around the lip of one container. These types of buildups may seem small and insignificant; however, they can indicate a breach of the container.
Dunkin notified the field chemist and waste specialist who, upon further inspection, determined that the material inside the drum had, in fact, leaked and sealed itself with crystalized buildup.
Had the container been moved during transportation, the solution inside may have been disturbed, causing a chemical release. Dunkin’s situational awareness helped prevented a potentially serious incident before it could occur.
Spot Awards give employees “on-the-spot” recognition for positive safety or quality assurance initiative. The Spot Award program offers three award levels: gold ($100), silver ($50) and bronze ($25).
If you see an employee exhibiting behavior that warrants positive recognition (e.g., safe behavior or process improvements), you can nominate that individual for a Spot Award by submitting xink form ANL-758.
The form will be routed to the individual’s supervisor and division for approval. Observers may award employees from their own division or from other divisions. The cost of the award is charged to the recipient’s division.
Additional information about the Spot Award program is available on Inside Argonne.