Department of Energy's Safety and Health Program for Enrichment Plant Workers Is Not Adequately Implemented

The Department of Energy (DOE) is responsible for establishing and enforcing occupational safety and health standards for both radiological and nonradiological matters at many DOE-owned, contractor-operated facilities, including the Nation's three uranium enrichment plants. Field responsibility for all three enrichment plants is administered by the Oak Ridge Operations Office. GAO was requested to review the DOE safety and health program to determine if its procedures are adequate to ensure the safe operation of the uranium enrichment facilities and if such procedures are adequately implemented. The DOE program for safety and health oversight and enforcement at the three plants relies primarily on a three-layered system: (1) inspections, (2) appraisals of the contractor's operations, and (3) investigations of employee complaints. Safety records of the three plants were examined and compared with national statistics and DOE-wide statistics. All major accidents which have occurred at the facilities were reviewed in addition to the 92 safety and health complaints filed by contractor employees.