# Presentation: 124382

## Remote Worker Challengesat SRSScottie FryarFacility RepresentativeDOE-SR Assistant Manager for Closure Project Infrastructure Support Operations Division May 15, 2008 

**Notes:**
Introduce Myself

state/ organization/ responsibility

- Discuss topic, program and challenges associated within

- I will start by defining a remote worker

## ~300 Sq mile site
~198,000 acres
90% wooded
10% industrial
Covers three counties
Adjacent to Savannah River

- ~300 Sq mile site
- ~198,000 acres
- 90% wooded
- 10% industrial
- Covers three counties
- Adjacent to Savannah River

## Remote Worker Challenges

- Remote Worker
**any worker or group of workers** within the SRS boundaries who is beyond range of an installed Safety Alarm System (SAS).

**Notes:**
This does not include people in transit. The rationale is that Wackenhut performs rounds of site roads and frequency is enough such that they would come across someone in need of help.

There a procedure that implements the program and list requirements

-Now that you understand who or a remote worker is, we can transition to the purpose of the program

## Remote Worker Program

- Why- To help ensure the safety of employees
- To provide warning to workers that an emergency has occurred at SRS and what Protective Actions are required
- To provide a method for accountability
- To provide a means of calling for assistance
-      (e.g., emergency services) if needed

**Notes:**
Each individual is responsible for making their own notification. One person can make notifications for two or more individuals traveling together. These requirements do not apply to drivers on site roads, but if you get out of the your vehicle in a remote area, notifications must be made.

At this time, I'll discuss the equipment required to be remote worker on the field

## Remote Worker Equipment

- Equipment requirements to communicate with Emergency Operations Center (EOC):
**The following type of equipment must be used during entry /work in remote areas**
- (Site Radio) -Or- (a Remote Worker Text Pager + Cell Phone)

**Notes:**
-Now that I have described the remote worker program, we will now discuss some challenges associated with the program

## Remote Worker Communications

**Notes:**

Picture outlines the EOC as main location with three other auxillary satellite call in locations 

## Remote Worker Challenges 

- In 2004, a fatality occurred in a remote area
- Problem with locating workers; they failed to call in as remote workers causing delays in emergency response

**Notes:**

-Due to fatality involved, Type A investigation required per DOE order

## Slide 8

**Notes:**

Picture of area where accident occurred you can see where workers were vs. where their radio was. Drive ~.5 mile to call for help. 

- Because they were called in they didn’t know what to do. So they called there onsite office which in turn contacted the EOC who sent help. Delays in response while worker pinned under trailer

## Remote Worker Initial Improvements

- Revised Procedure-
- To ensure that workers have direct access to a reliable means of communication with the EOC.
- Ensuring all potential remote workers are aware of program requirements
- Understand when and how to communicate with EOC

**Notes:**
-Revised procedure highlighting the dedicated phone line at EOC for remote worker call in

## Remote Worker Initial Improvements

- Lesson Learned:
- Flowdown of ISMS to their subcontractors, vendors, and visitors.
- Know who is on SRS grounds and where they are i.e., increased oversight of subcontractors.

**Notes:**
-
-Lesson learned loack of accountability over subs performing work in field

- after initial improvements, SRS still experienced inicidents with the program, I will discuss a few

## Remote Worker Program Incidents

- U.S. Forest Service logging subcontractor working in area where site deer hunt was in progress.
- Issues:
- Use of two types of overlapping map systems. Both with numbered coordinates but geographically different.
- Violation of Area posted Do Not Enter
- Inattention to detail: in walk down before hunt, no one questioned logging equipment in woods

**Notes:**
Describe event 

-loggers in area of deer hunt. hunter moves three times to avoid trees falling  then calls EOC.

-Loggers leave area. critique held. hunter got his deer 

## Slide 12

## Remote Worker Program Incidents

- Savannah River Ecology Lab personnel vehicle stuck in sand while conducting research.
- Issue:
- Highlighted the need for clarification of when to call EOC as remote worker

**Notes:**
describe SREL types. they conduct environmental reasearch run by UGa

PhD type going out in middle of the night to drive around with windows  listening for frogs croaking. got stuck in sand and exited vehicle( not thinkin gto call in) couldnt get vehicle loose so they called EOC for help, which had no record of them as remote workers. luckily they had a map and could name road and area they were in. Wackenhut dispatched and guys removed from site with badges taken til next day

- Note: SREL policy to call-in prior leaving for work area

## Remote Worker Program Incidents

- A subcontractor allowed in prescribed burn area.
- Issues:
- Remote workers were allowed to enter area where prescribed burn was about to occur
- Satellite Dispatcher lost computer service and  was manually logging workers in. He was unaware of burn area due to computer system being down.

**Notes:**
Interagency agreement with DOE and Forest Service.

In this case, Subcontractor working in area to inspect power poles. Follows protocol and gets site radio. He calls in to satellite dispacther whose computer system happened to just go down. Dispatcher has reverted to manual log sheet of remote workers and unknowingly logs the worker into an area where burn is about to occur. Forest service a, aerial dead body check before starting the fire when they notice the vehicle and send someone on ground to look for people. 

- Those were just three examples now the challenges of the program

## Remote Worker Program Challenges

- DOE-SR Manager requested program review due to recurring incidents to ensure continuous program improvement.

## Program Challenges

- Definition of  Remote Worker
- Human Performance Improvement (Procedure Non-compliance)
- Coordination amongst three satellite locations and EOC
- Mobile workers (grid to grid movement)
- Cell Phone/Radio/Pager Coverage

## Conclusion

- SRS large is large site with lots of workers and people continuously moving around the site.
- The remote worker program is a means to have positive control on those workers in remote areas
- There are challenges with program but site continues program improvements.

## Remote Worker Challenges

- Questions
- Contact Information
- Scottie Fryar
- Email: _[scottie.fryar@srs.gov](mailto:scottie.fryar@srs.gov)_
- Phone: (803)952-9055