Safety as a Foundation for Project Success

This paper describes the importance of safety as a foundation for success on the largest and most complex cleanup project in the DOE complex. It describes the breadth of safety considerations ranging from design of systems to prevent low probability large consequence events to the day-to-day work hazard analysis and accident prevention. We are developing many first of a kind systems for handling, treating and disposing of the nation's largest volume of stored radioactive and hazardous waste. It is stored in aging underground tanks distributed across nearly 100 square miles. The project includes the development of retrieval and transfer systems, treatment and product handling, storage and disposal. When considering safety for a project of this magnitude it is necessary to include knowledge from almost every discipline as the breadth of hazard is large. Line ownership, worker involvement, and open communication are keys to safety success. (authors)