Workers at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (BGCAPP) have set a new record for hours worked without a Lost Time Incident in the chemical demilitarization program. The BGCAPP team has worked 2,179 consecutive days and 17.3 million hours without an LTI.
An LTI is an incident that results in time away from work.
“Our BGCAPP team has consistently demonstrated and maintained exceptional job safety performance, not just the past five years, but for the life of the project,” said Joe Curcio, project manager. “Their focused commitment has earned them the distinction of exceeding the safety records of previous chemical demilitarization projects.”
The previous LTI record was at the Tooele Chemical Agent Disposal Facility in Utah which completed operations in 2012. The workers at Tooele amassed 17,204,336 hours without an LTI.
“Achieving this incredible milestone reinforces that safe behaviors and actions by all workers are deliberate decisions to ‘Be Safe, Do the Right Thing’,” said Mike Noyes, assistant project manager.
Blue Grass Safety and Health Manager Brian Mckay said the milestone reflects the hard work, teamwork and “brother’s keeper” attitude exhibited for more than 20 years.
“We have the honor of being part of the last and, arguably, the most complex and memorable phase of this program,” said McKay. “We’ve taken that legacy seriously, ensuring that every task is done safely and responsibly, and proving that our commitment to safety remains as strong as ever.”
Plant Safety Manager Mike Dittman noted that at Blue Grass safety is treated as a value, not a priority.
“Priorities change rapidly here as emergent work appears or schedules change; a value however is constant,” said Dittman. “Safety as a value supersedes any specific situation regardless of time or place. Safety is not just a catch phrase or a slogan at BGCAPP and we work exceptionally hard in spite of the challenges to maintain that value.”
The final M55 rocket filled with GB nerve agent was drained and destroyed in the main plant July 7, 2023, marking the completion of the destruction of the chemical weapons stockpile in Kentucky. The stockpile at the Blue Grass Army Depot near Richmond was the last of nine stockpiles in the U.S. to be eliminated.
Since the last rocket was destroyed, drained, containerized rocket warheads, considered secondary waste, are being processed in Static Detonation Chamber facilities at BGCAPP.
