LOS ANGELES (Feb. 27, 2017) — AECOM, a premier, fully integrated global infrastructure firm, announced today that together with Washington River Protection Solutions (WRPS), an AECOM-led team, it has won the Campbell Institute’s 2017 Innovation Challenge for its Physiological Monitoring Program, which eliminated heat-stress disorders by adapting wearable technology for its remote field teams.
The Innovation Challenge honors organizations for their achievement in the implementation of an innovative program that addresses specific key environmental, health and safety (EHS) challenges.
WRPS is responsible for the safe storage of 56 million gallons of radioactive and chemical waste stored in underground tanks at the Hanford Site, a decommissioned nuclear production complex, managed by U.S. Department of Energy, in Richland, Washington.
Employees faced an elevated risk of heat stress by working remotely in heavy personal protection equipment on the project site, where summer temperatures average above 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius). To ensure an effective heat stress monitoring program, WRPS developed a chest-mounted device that remotely measures employees’ body temperature and heart rate. The data is transmitted back in real time to a trained technician who uses it to monitor the employees for signs of heat stress.
After implementing the program in 2015, WRPS has now completed two years without heat-stress disorders and no related work stoppages.
“It is an honor to be recognized as an innovation leader by the Campbell Institute,” said AECOM’s Andy Peters, senior vice president and chief safety officer. “Innovative solutions allow us to continuously strengthen our safety program to safeguard our people and help deliver our clients’ projects.”
“Our success in developing and implementing this effective and valuable safety management tool could not have happened without the engagement, collaboration and strong commitment shown by the entire team,” said Mark Lindholm, WRPS president and project manager.
The Campbell Institute is the EHS center of excellence at the National Safety Council (United States). It enables organizations to achieve and sustain environmental, health and safety excellence. For more information, visit www.thecampbellinstitute.org. AECOM has been a Campbell Institute member since 2014.
About AECOM
AECOM is built to deliver a better world. We design, build, finance and operate infrastructure assets for governments, businesses and organizations in more than 150 countries. As a fully integrated firm, we connect knowledge and experience across our global network of experts to help clients solve their most complex challenges. From high-performance buildings and infrastructure, to resilient communities and environments, to stable and secure nations, our work is transformative, differentiated and vital. A Fortune 500 firm, AECOM had revenue of approximately $17.4 billion during fiscal year 2016. See how we deliver what others can only imagine at aecom.com and @AECOM.
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