ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. (Sept. 29, 2015) -- The U.S. Army Edgewood Chemical Biological Center received the U.S. Army's highest safety and risk management honors Sept. 10 for destroying Syria's declared chemical weapons stockpile at sea ahead of schedule without an incident.
In a ceremony held at Aberdeen Proving Ground the Director of Army Safety, Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Farnsworth, presented the 2015 Director of the Army Safety Risk Management Award to ECBC Director Joseph Corriveau, Ph.D.
Each year the Army selects a unit or individual for the award in recognition of a significant contribution to Army readiness through risk management.
The Army recognized the center for maintaining a perfect safety record while installing its land-based Field Deployment Hydrolysis System inside the limited hold of a cargo ship, and then successfully destroying the chemical agent at sea in just 42 days.
"It takes proactive management, and the ability to collaborate and innovate, to complete a highly complicated, never-been-done-before mission such as this," Farnsworth said. "It is a tremendous achievement, and a credit to the professionalism and expertise of ECBC."
"During the entire process, safety officials had a seat at the table, and two questions were continuously asked: Will it work? Is it safe?" said ECBC Military Deputy Col. Debra Daniels. "During the operation, the safety attitude was phenomenal. There were two safety personnel on board, one for each shift. They commented that their job was easy because everyone involved truly had the right attitude."
The FDHS project was a response to a critical international need to develop and field a means of destroying Syria's 600-metric-ton declared stockpile of chemical weapons at sea in international waters. ECBC scientists and engineers miniaturized an existing neutralization technology to convert chemical agent to a hazardous waste product not usable as a weapon. Through innovative design, ECBC engineers miniaturized the capabilities of an 18-acre factory facility into a 700 foot by 100 foot system. The system was further modified to safely operate while the ship was pitched by waves. An ECBC team of field operators destroyed the Syrian chemical weapons at sea completely and safely in August and September of 2014, 20 days ahead of schedule.
"I couldn't be more proud," Corriveau said. "It was a highly complicated mission with many moving parts in a very challenging setting. This accomplishment shows that safety is a value we live by."
ECBC has an extensive risk management and chemical and biological surety program. All personnel working with chemical and biological agents receive regular safety and health training. Also, all ECBC personnel allowed direct access to chemical and biological agents are certified in a Personnel Reliability Program which includes extensive background checks, random drug testing, intensive security and safety training, and regular medical surveillance.
"Safety is integrated into all of our programs at multiple levels," said George Collins, ECBC's deputy director for program integration. "Creating and maintaining a culture of safety is a collaborative effort across the Center. It's the common denominator in everything we do."
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The U.S. Army Edgewood Chemical Biological Center is part of the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command, which has the mission to ensure decisive overmatch for unified land operations to empower the Army, the joint warfighter and our nation. RDECOM is a major subordinate command of the U.S. Army Materiel Command.
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