Oak Ridge Today

Y-12 licenses high-powered hydraulic tool to Chattanooga company

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Omni Jaw 5

The Omni Jaw 5—a patented, portable, high-powered hydraulic tool invented to shear and trap bolt heads during demolition projects—has been licensed by Y-12 to Green Arc Labs (GAL) of Chattanooga. (Photo courtesy B&W Y-12)

 

A patented, portable, high-powered hydraulic tool—invented to shear and trap bolt heads during demolition projects—has proven its worth and is moving to market. Y-12 National Security Complex signed a licensing agreement with start-up company Green Arc Labs, or GAL, of Chattanooga for Omni Jaw 5. This is the first time the two companies have partnered.

The hand-held tool, invented a decade ago by Lee Bzorgi of Y-12’s National Security Technology Center, generates up to five tons of force on the cutting jaw and simultaneously collects the trimmings, eliminating environmental and safety hazards. It was designed during demolition of the East Tennessee Technology Park, where asbestos cyanide-dipped bolts posed a problem.

“We are excited about our connection with Y-12. This is a first for us,” said Casey York, founder of the GAL start-up company. “We have existing manufacturers in Chattanooga, and the Omni Jaw tool will be machined right here. There’s such an apparent need for this tool in the construction or demolition of any commercial building, for example, or in ship deconstruction, asbestos removal, or equipment dismantlement.” [Read more…]

Spotlight: Eight Y-12 employees awarded master’s in engineering management

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Y-12 National Security Complex Aerial View

Eight employees at the Y‑12 National Security Complex, pictured above, recently earned a master’s in industrial engineering with a concentration in engineering management at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.

Eight employees at the Y‑12 National Security Complex recently earned a master’s in industrial engineering with a concentration in engineering management at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.

Students pursuing this degree complete the 16-course, four-semester program as an ensemble, attending all-day Friday classes not held on the university campus.

“This particular program is one of the success stories of the Y‑12/University of Tennessee Partnership,” reported Debbie Reed, Y‑12’s UT liaison director. “But setting up the program was the easy part. Being a nontraditional student isn’t easy. Anyone who works full-time and still has the discipline and drive to take on college studies deserves special recognition. Putting in a 4/10 workweek and then taking another full day of classes—along with doing the homework that comes with those classes—that’s a lot of extra effort.” [Read more…]

Honors: Y-12 garners third year as American Heart Association Fit-Friendly Worksite

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Y-12 Fit Friendly Work Site

B&W Y-12 was recognized by the American Heart Association for the third year as a Fit Friendly Worksite. Part of the criteria for such a designation is providing employees support for physical activity, such as Y-12’s LiveWise program, an onsite wellness program.

For the third year, the Y-12 National Security Complex has been recognized as a Fit-Friendly Worksite.

The Fit-Friendly Companies program recognizes employers who champion the health of their employees and create a culture of physical activity and health in the workplace.

B&W Y-12 joins 12 other East Tennessee companies as a Gold-level company, which includes offering employees support for physical activity, promoting a wellness culture, providing healthy eating options at the worksite, and implementing at least nine specific criteria outlined by the American Heart Association related to physical activity, nutrition and culture.

“As a Gold-level award recipient, you have not only recognized the importance of a healthy workplace for your employees but have taken important steps to create a culture of wellness by providing support to employees, and we commend you and your employees,” said American Heart Association Chief Executive Officer Nancy Brown.

Y-12 apprentice program celebrates third graduating class

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Y-12 Apprentice Graduation Ceremony 2014

Y-12 apprentice graduate Jessica Griffen receives congratulations on achieving her journeyman status as an electrician from husband Gabriel and their four-month-old daughter Berkley. (Photos courtesy B&W Y-12)

The apprentice program at the Y-12 National Security Complex recently celebrated its third graduating class as 27 participants gained their journeyman status. The program was restarted in 2008 after an almost 30-year hiatus, a press release said.

Each graduate spent three to four years with a journeyman and attended between 144 and 246 hours of classroom training each year on his or her own time, usually in the evenings at local union halls.

“This program is a great way to transfer knowledge from our highly skilled workers to the new work force,” said National Nuclear Security Administration Production Office Manager Steve Erhart. “The apprenticeship program has positioned Y-12 for the long-term to ensure our future production capabilities.” [Read more…]

Spotlight: Y-12 dietician conducts educational tour of local grocery store

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Karen Lacey, Amy Hinkel, and Vickie at Food City

Karen Lacey, LiveWise dietician at the Y-12 National Security Complex, explains how to read the nutrition facts from the label on a loaf of gluten-free bread as Amy Hinkel and her mom Vickie listen. Lacey has been advising Y-12 employees for the past three years on how to make good food choices. She recently led a field trip to Oak Ridge’s Food City to educate employees and their families on making good choices when shopping.

 

Karen Lacey, LiveWise dietician at the Y-12 National Security Complex, recently led a field trip to Oak Ridge’s Food City to educate employees and their families on making good choices when shopping. Lacey has been advising Y-12 employees for the past three years on how to make good food choices. [Read more…]

Spotlight: B&W Y-12 donates $2,500 to MMC Hospitality House

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B&W Y-12 Donates to MMC Hospitality House

B&W Y-12 Director of Public Affairs Bill Reis, right, hands a $2,500 donation to Mike Belbeck, Methodist Medical Center’s president and chief administrative officer. The funds will go toward MMC’s Hospitality Houses, which provide temporary lodging for patients and families who travel to Oak Ridge for extended medical treatment.

From Y-12 News Notes

Y-12 donates DVDs, teddy bears to Children’s Hospital

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B&W Y-12 Donate DVDs to East Tennessee Children's Hospital

AnnMarie Corbett, Lily Matthiessen, KelliAnn, Kevin, Emily and Victoria Corbett deliver DVDs to East Tennessee Children’s Hospital. More than 350 DVDs were collected at Y-12 for patients at the East Tennessee Children’s Hospital. (Photos courtesy B&W Y-12)

More than 350 DVDs and some 360 teddy bears were collected by Y-12 National Security Complex employees for patients at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital in Knoxville.

The DVDs were collected as part of the “DVDs for Joy” campaign, which is the brainchild of KelliAnn Corbett, daughter of B&W Y-12’s Kevin Corbett. KelliAnn and her sisters collected DVDs at some Oak Ridge schools last year, and they invited “Y-12ers” to join them this year. Kathi Hofstad, ETCH coordinator for volunteer services and programs, said the DVDs gathered have helped create a mobile library where families can check out movies to entertain them during their stay at the hospital. [Read more…]

B&W Y-12: President, general manager leaving at end of January, sends message to employees

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Chuck Spencer

Chuck Spencer

Note: The following is a copy of the message that B&W Y-12 President and General Manager Chuck Spencer sent to employees on Friday.

I wanted to be the first to tell you about these organizational changes, but given the speed of media you may have already heard them from other sources. If so, I apologize.

When I arrived at Y‑12 in August of 2012, the site had just experienced a significant security event and was at a very low point. However, we immediately set about to work together to rebuild security and to regain the confidence of our many stakeholders. To do that, we have gone through much change and worked tirelessly. What I am most proud of is how we immediately became more introspective. How we all began to question virtually every aspect of our business. Not just security, but operations, maintenance, our assurance system, development, engineering, etc. We did this not because we were performing poorly in these areas, but because that is what a good company does. It is willing to look at itself with a critical eye so that it can be the best at what it does. I am very proud of what you have accomplished in the year and a half you have allowed me to be a part of your team and am confident that you are well prepared for a great future. Given that, it is with mixed emotions that I need to inform you that I plan to return to my position as chief operating officer for B&W’s Technical Services Group. [Read more…]

Y-12 Community Relations Council adds members

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Bruce Borchers

Bruce Borchers

Bruce Borchers, Veronica O’Hearn, and John W. Smith have joined the Y-12 Community Relations Council. The volunteer group is comprised of 29 community and business leaders who are charged with helping to exchange information between Y-12’s management team and the Oak Ridge and East Tennessee region. The new members were selected by the CRC membership, a press release said.

“B&W Y-12 launched the Community Relations Council in 2002 because we understand the importance of having a strong relationship with our neighbors in and around the Oak Ridge area,” said Bill Reis, B&W Y-12’s vice president of public and government affairs. “We work hard to keep the group updated on the projects/programs and activities at Y-12 and look to them to provide us feedback from the community and to serve as ambassadors for Y-12. It’s a wonderful partnership, and we appreciate each and every one of the CRC members for their commitment to Y-12 and the community.”

B&W Y-12 operates the Y-12 National Security Complex for the National Nuclear Security Administration. [Read more…]

Y-12 receives two significant safety awards

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For the 10th consecutive year, the Y‑12 National Security Complex received the National Safety Council’s Occupational Excellence Achievement award. This award recognizes companies, units, or facilities that have reported injuries and illnesses that involved days away from work equal to or less than 50 percent of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics rating for their industry and have had no fatalities during a calendar year.

“We want to reduce our lost workday case rate to zero,” said B&W Y-12 President and General Manager Chuck Spencer. “During calendar year 2012 (for which this award was given), our rate was 0.17. The comparable industry incident rate is 1.6. Y-12 employees can be proud of making safety a value in their daily lives.”

The second award received was the U.S. Department of Energy Voluntary Protection Program Star of Excellence. As the award states, employees have “achieved an outstanding level of performance in meeting established safety and health goals, actively conducting outreach to others and in achieving an injury and illness rate significantly below the average of similar businesses and operations.” [Read more…]

B&W Y-12 donates $10K to Children’s Museum

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B&W Y-12 Check Presentation to Children's Museum

B&W Y-12 Public Affairs Manager Jud Simmons discusses ongoing projects with Mary Ann Damos, executive director of the Oak Ridge Children’s Museum, in the museum’s environmental center and gardens. (Submitted photo)

B&W Y-12 recently donated $10,000 to the Children’s Museum in Oak Ridge. The funds will support the museum’s programs, including its planned Healthy Living exhibit.

“B&W Y-12’s support has been invaluable to the museum,” said Mary Ann Damos, the museum’s executive director. “The financial donations have helped us provide more and better services to the area’s children, but the hands-on donations of manpower also have been helpful.”

B&W Y-12 employees and their families have donated their time and skills on various museum projects for the past 10 years, including painting, planting, and repairs and maintenance to the museum’s heating and air conditioning system. [Read more…]

Y-12 earns communications honors

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The Y-12 National Security Complex received awards for its public relations, technical communications, and films during three events earlier this year.

The Volunteer Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America held their annual “V” Awards for public relations programs and products, and Y-12 received six awards, including a first-place honor for The Y-12 Times, the employee newsletter. Other award winners included the Human Performance Improvement/Safety Culture campaign, Innovation poster series, UPFront newsletter, The Y-12 Report, and Y-12 Sustainability communications. All entries were evaluated by judges from a PRSA chapter in California. [Read more…]