America’s Safest Companies 2024: AtkinsRéalis US Nuclear
Editor's Note: The 2024 class of America's Safety Companies will be recognized Tuesday, August 27 during the Safety Leadership Conference. More information about the conference, including registration, can be found at www.safetyleadershipconference.com.
AtkinsRéalis US Nuclear
Engineering, Waste Management, Construction
Oak Ridge, TN
450 employees |8 sites | 24 EHS professionals
“Good catch” at engineering and construction firm AtkinsRéalis means different things.
A traditional safety program, called Good Catch/Near Miss, began in 2020. “In 2021 we focused on communication, which led to a better understanding about recognizing and resolving potential issues,” explains Nicole Seabaugh, safety specialist. “By 2023 people started to embrace the culture of inclusivity and the value of their input.” In 2023, the company received 115 submissions, and every suggestion submitted has been addressed with many suggestions leading to a positive change within the workplace, she notes.
However, “good catch” is also a phrase used as praise to a dog, and that usage is equally applicable since the company has two dog-like quadruped robots named Max and Rock-E. The robotic technology, called SPOT, was developed by Boston Dynamics. The dogs can sense the environment, carry out computations to make decisions and perform a variety of safety scenarios, including:
• Performing tasks in hazardous environments such as those containing low-level radiation, uncharacterized radioactive sources, chemical hazards or buildings and structures with unknown structural integrity.
• Performing routine and non-routine repetitive tasks such as performing “rounds”; observing equipment conditions and instrument readings, freeing up personnel for more high functioning tasks.
• Potential emergency response within facilities prior to worker entry, such as determining the extent of potential radioactive contamination spread or airborne chemical releases.
• Performing simple tasks (using a robotic arm feature) in hazardous areas.
Other safety technology in use at AtkinsRéalis includes the use of augmented reality (AR) headsets, featuring an inertial measurement unit which includes an accelerometer, gyroscope and magnetometer, four “environment understanding” sensors, an in-depth camera, and a photographic video camera.
Virtual reality (VR) technology is being used to conduct remote workplace walkdowns and employee orientations. This makes it possible to have more “eyes” on the work being performed and to enhance the pre-hire selection process to determine whether employees can perform work under various conditions (e.g., working at heights, or in confined spaces).
Psychological safety is also highly valued at the company, to the extent that AtkinsRéalis partnered with the National Council for Mental Well-being to offer certifications and training courses. Twenty-six employees are certified Mental Health First-Aid responders.
“Participants were able to build skills and confidence needed to provide support to colleagues, family and friends,” says Seabaugh. “They also gained a better understanding of how to care for their own well-being at work and home, as well as an action plan to apply to non-crisis and crisis scenarios. By fostering a culture of mental well-being and compassion we are able to make our organization a better place to work.”
