UPF review cites 'chilled work environment,' other causes for design failure; Y-12's M&O contractor
Source: Knoxville News Sentinel
A second report analyzing the design failure of the Uranium Processing Facility is even more critical than the first, heaping blame on the managing contractor at the Y-12 nuclear weapons plant for encouraging a “coercive” management style on the big project that created a “chilled work environment” and stifled much-needed criticism.
I recently obtained a copy of the report put together by Parsons, the National Nuclear Security Administration’s construction management services contractor. Parsons was asked by the NNSA to evaluate multiple issues associated with design problems on the multibillion-dollar project in Oak Ridge. The report was dated Jan. 29, 2013 and stamped “Official Use Only.”
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At least eight causal factors were identified by the Parsons review team. Among them:
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Instead of controlling the scope of what was needed inside the Uranium Processing Facility, the choice was made to control costs by limiting the building size. Studies that indicated the need for a bigger building were ignored. The report said it was wrongly assumed that standard engineering practices for commercial buildings and operating nuclear facilities would be sufficient for design and construction of a first-of-its-kind nuclear processing facility.
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Read more: http://knoxblogs.com/atomiccity/2013/09/15/upf-review-cites-chilled-work-environment-causes-design-failure-y-12s-mo-contractor-criticized/
"the choice was made to control costs by limiting the building size. Studies that indicated the need for a bigger building were ignored."
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