AIKEN, S.C. (April 4, 2023) — Savannah River Mission Completion (SRMC) has been selected by the American Board for Occupational Health Nurses (ABOHN) to receive the Employer Recognition Award for 2022.
SRMC, the liquid waste contractor at DOE-Environmental Management’s Savannah River Site, was recognized for the value the company places on obtaining certification in occupational health nursing. The organization's notice of the award specifically cites SRMC's value placed on the sustained support of credentialing in that field. Of the numerous organizations considered for the award, SRMC was selected from the seven considered for final review.
Susan Jordan is SRMC’s lead occupational nurse and received the award on the company’s behalf. She is pleased that SRMC places an emphasis on attaining certifications, which enables her to maintain competency of her practice and remain current with occupational health industry initiatives and trends.
"It is honestly my pleasure to work for SRMC, a company that promotes and fosters professional growth and sincerely values employees,” Jordan said. “SRMC has a total of three nurses – two of whom are certified in Occupational Health. The goal is to have all SRMC nurses certified once they are eligible."
According to ABOHN, occupational and environmental health nurses have a combined knowledge of health and business that they blend with healthcare expertise to balance the requirement for a safe and healthful work environment with a "healthy" bottom line. Board certification demonstrates knowledge, proficiency, and excellence in the field of occupational health.
The organization supports nurses' competence in various skills, such as health promotion; injury and illness care that can result in fewer work-related injuries; infection control and monitoring -- including contact tracing, exposure control, medical testing, and worker training and use of Personal Protective Equipment; as well as proper management of cases, leading to better coordination of care and facilitating a safe return to work for an injured or ill employee.
According to Joel Cantrell, SRMC’s Director of Environment, Safety, Health, and Quality, certification of the occupational health team helps protect the health of all workers. Also, the certification adds cost savings to the company’s bottom line.
“A credentialed health nurse’s contribution to the employees’ welfare and the company’s overall well-being should not be underestimated,” Cantrell said. “We can establish guidelines that our workers use to protect themselves while performing necessary jobs. We will always put a priority on worker safety, and a well-qualified nurse is essential for helping us keep our workers healthy.”
SRMC comprises parent company BWX Technologies, Inc. with partners Amentum and Fluor. Its team brings the capabilities necessary to accelerate cleanup at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site through safe nuclear operations, optimized and integrated mission execution, and strong corporate governance.
(L-R) Dr. Betty Sanisidro, Executive Director of the American Board of Occupational Health Nurses, presents the Employee Recognition Award to SRMC health nurse Susan Jordan, BSN, RN, COHN.