LLNL - The True Story -

How many more high profile screw-ups can Charlie and crew survive before they are replaced? The track record is not trending good for the top brass, and this may have blown their last chance to pull it out. http://krqe.com/2015/05/29/energy-department-to-investigate-los-alamos-lab-consortium/

LANL has a long history of electrical accidents The safety record has not changed much over the years, despite numerous investigations.  http://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/energy-department-increases-scrutiny-of-lanl-operator-after-electrical-accidents/article_6e5625eb-4663-5b4a-8407-e02201baf963.html

Hiring bias--LLNL even more so? http://www.pnas.org/content/112/17/5360.full.pdf Women preferred 2:1 over men for STEM faculty positions By Ted Boscia For decades, sexism in higher education has been blamed for blocking women from landing academic positions in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields. But a new study by Cornell psychologists suggests that era has ended, finding in experiments with professors from 371 colleges and universities across the United States that science and engineering faculty preferred women two-to-one over identically qualified male candidates for assistant professor positions. Published online April 13 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the paper, “National Hiring Experiments Reveal 2:1 Faculty Preference For Women on STEM Tenure Track,” by Wendy M. Williams, professor of human development, and Stephen J. Ceci, the Helen L. Carr Professor of Developmental Psychology, both in Cornell’s College of Human ...

http://www.independentnews.com/news/valley_roundup/whistleblower-case/article_ed967b04-048e-11e5-aceb-67aa021bc8dc.html?mode=jqm

I an experiencing age discrimination from my Group Leader. He's doing this in front of my co-workers, at meetings and privately. It's becoming more blatant every time we meet and it's affecting my self esteem and ability to focus on work. Should I take this to HR or the attorneys?

NNSA: Pantex 'Code Blue' like a safety review May 25, 2015  By Jim McBride - Amarillo Global News Top National Nuclear Security Administration officials have declared a “Code Blue” review of two nuclear weapons programs at the Pantex Plant, an NNSA spokeswoman confirmed Friday. According to a statement from the NNSA, a “Code Blue” is declared when an issue or condition “could have a significant impact” on meeting nuclear weapons program requirements. Pantex, located about 17 miles northeast of Amarillo, assembles, dismantles and modifies nuclear weapons for the U.S. atomic stockpile. The plant, which employs about 3,000 workers, also stores tons of weapons-grade plutonium recovered from dismantled warheads. “It’s not delaying any of our production or impacting operations,” Shelley Laver, deputy director of NNSA public affairs, said in a Friday interview in response to Amarillo Globe-News inquiries to the NNSA about the declaration. “The Code Blue is essentially like a safety re...

http://www.bizjournals.com/albuquerque/blog/bizventures/2015/05/doe-posts-new-sandia-operations-contract-online.html Sandia contract up for bid. Let's hope that this is done legally this time: http://archive.federaltimes.com/article/20141112/ACQ/311120012/Report-Sandia-violated-rules-lobbying-contract-extensions

Weapons Complex Monitor May 18, 2015 DOE 'Emphatically' Supports Bringing NNSA Back Under Department The Department of Energy supports bringing the semi-autonomous National Nuclear Administration back under the Energy Department in line with recommendations of the Congressional Advisory Panel, according to a DOE response to the panel's findings obtained by Weapons Complex Morning Briefing. DOE largely agreed to the panel's recommendations from late last year, including the most extreme, which found that after evaluating several governance models, "the solution is not to seek a higher degree of autonomy for NNSA, because that approach would only further isolate the enterprise from needed Cabinet Secretary leadership. Instead it is recommended that Congress place the responsibility and accountability for the mission squarely on the shoulders of a qualified Secretary, supported by a strong enterprise Director with unquestioned authority to execute nuclear enterprise ...

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B9eIrcyRIQxyeXlfYlc4blI3MG8&usp=sharing

LANL whistle blower publishes book on lab This should make for some interesting reading over the summer, as the contract re-compete gets into full swing. http://www.sfreporter.com/santafe/article-10356-leaks-at-the-lab.html

Always good to be optimistic.  And with the definition of stupid being: "Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result", they might even get it again. The Laboratory recently submitted to the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) contracting officer the annual update to the Lab's Multiyear Strategy for Performance Improvement, FY2016-2020. In accordance with the NNSA contract, LANL is obligated to develop a multiyear strategy that details its planned efforts and expected accomplishments by year. It's also obligated to continuously improve its management and performance at the Lab. In the latest Strategy for Performance Improvement, FY2016-2020, the Lab has created a fused suite of strategic goals and objectives that provide a framework for scientific success and operational excellence for now and in the future. Link here to review the document. Poster did not provide a link  (Doobydew)

https://lasers.llnl.gov/news/experimental-highlights

Pros 1 I could not get a job at Sandia s I thought cavemen lived alongside as the dinosaurs and that dinosaurs never existed.  2 People make fun of me for wearing a bow-tie and top hat. 3. I keep getting fired for not showing up to time since I keep forgetting the location of where I work.  4 My boss hated my idea that I could make the company by having me blog all day long about how dinosaurs never existed. 5 I got fired for using company money to by a blowup doll in the shape of devil dinosaur.  6 They not only said no overtime for me but please never show up to work again. 7 I have never been invited to a single conference or event to explain my theory about dinosaurs never existed.  8 I could not get into college.  9 My uncle went to jail but he was an important person! 10 I go to a methadone clinic for healthcare.  Cons Since I do not have a job I can spend every hour and every day on blogs. Sandia is a name of a dinosaur!  Society has to spend mo...

Best ever glassdoor review for Sandia Labs: “You will not find a better company to work for! There’s nothing like it. ” Current Employee - Member of Technical Staff in Albuquerque, NM I have been working at Sandia full-time (More than 5 years) Pros This is my top ten list: 1. Easy to get a job. Lack of candidates with US citizenship and advanced degrees resulted in hiring those who couldn't get or keep jobs in private sector. Interviews consist of behavioral questions, and no technical questions are asked. 2. Non-existent dress code. I have seen more cleavage and butt cheeks here than at Hooters. There are many college coeds and office admins who dress provocatively. A+ 3. Work-life balance would make French jealous. Many employees take 2 hour lunch breaks and/or always come in late and leave early. Working over weekends is so uncommon, you will not see another living soul around. Telecommuting is encouraged, and some employees never show up for work. 4. Encouraged to come up with ...

LANL Electrical Systems Were being Probed Before Burning Accident By Journal North Staff PUBLISHED: Friday, May 8, 2015 at 6:00 pm The Department of Energy had already launched an investigation into the electrical systems at Los Alamos National Laboratory before a May 3 accident at an electrical substation that left one worker burned and seriously injured, according to a report. A Friday article in the Weapons Complex Monitor, which covers the nation’s nuclear weapons facilities, says National Nuclear Security Administration Los Alamos Field Office spokeswoman Toni Chiri confirmed that the week before the accident, DOE’s Office of Enterprise Assessments Office of Enforcement issued a notice of investigation to the lab’s contract operator, Los Alamos National Security LLC. The notice targeted “potential deficiencies” in implementation of “requirements for hazardous energy assessment and control and several related electrical incidents,” the Monitor reported. Chiri did not return phone a...

I guess LLNL employees don't even know how to sleep. Accessible from the intranet: (note from Scooby) https://webcenter.llnl.gov/myllnl/faces/oracle/webcenter/portalapp/pages/top-story-wrapper.jspx?articleId=36576&_afrLoop=3302193699804306&_afrWindowMode=0&_afrWindowId=blank#%40%3F_afrWindowId%3Dblank%26_afrLoop%3D3302193699804306%26articleId%3D36576%26_afrWindowMode%3D0%26_adf.ctrl-state%3Daees2q9l8_142

http://www.abqjournal.com/580463/news/security-workers-at-lanl-in-contract-stand-off.html

LLNL PERMIT RENEWAL & HEARING NOTICE  Livermore Lab's hazardous and “mixed” radioactive waste permit is up for renewal. Once issued, it will govern LLNL’s hazardous waste activities for the next decade.  LLNL generates toxic, reactive, corrosive, ignitable, "mixed" radioactive, and other wastes governed by RCRA (Resource Conservation and Recovery Act). LLNL workers’ health could be endangered if the permit is vague, permissive or incomplete.  After hearing all public comments, both verbal and written, the California State Dept. of Toxic Substances Control will make a final decision to issue, amend or deny the permit renewal.  Written comments are due on or before August 3, 2015. Hearing Date and Time: Wednesday, June 3, 2015 at 6:30 PM Hearing Location: Arroyo Seco School, 5280 Irene Way, Livermore
. For more information or to submit written comments by email: alejandro.galdamez@dtsc.ca.gov

McMillan: 'Sympathy and support' to family of burn victim By The Staff - Los Alamos Monitor  Monday, May 4, 2015 at 4:08 pm Los Alamos National Laboratory Director Charlie McMillan said he and the rest of LANL are hoping for a full recovery for the employee severely burned in Sunday's accident at the LANSCE site. "We are deeply concerned about the serious medical condition of the worker who was injured in an electrical accident this Sunday," McMillan said in a news release from LANL. "Nothing is more important at this time than his well-being. On behalf of the entire workforce at Los Alamos, I would like to express our hope for a full recovery and our sympathy to his family at this very difficult and trying time." LANL announced Monday afternoon the accident at TA-53 is currently under investigation. LANL said it would likely have a joint investigation board along with the Department of Energy going within three days. On Sunday, nine workers were injured...

(LANL) Managers, please follow the Livermore rules in regards to  the (latest) incident: 1) Do not mention the incident or the names of the injured employees, ever. 2) In the even of serious injury or worse, have a manager call the spouse of the injured employee and tell them to talk to staff relations. 3) Await further instructions from staff relations.

"Do DOE Contractor workers really have at their disposal, prompt DOE "zero-tolerance" support against Contractor acts of retaliation for making a whistleblower "protected disclosure"?"  How the DOE IG and NNSA respond to a “protected disclosure” appear to be strongly driven if not dominated, by potential liability facing the DOE Contractor, with protection of the employee bringing forward the disclosure, of little or no concern. Will this lead to more DOE Complex accidents and Contractor indiscretions? See two contrasting DOE IG protocols from past DOE IG reports: DOE/Contractor Investigation Protocol A:  The DOE IG receives a concern alleging Contractor Facility issues, but the employee or "hotline" caller, does NOT assert “whistleblower” status and does NOT claim Contractor retaliation for making the disclosure.  In this case, there is a clearly defined DOE IG Investigation "objective", "scope", and "methodology" w...

Los Alamos National Laboratory just issued the following memo to employees regarding an incident that occurred today at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE): To employees regarding injuries at LANSCE This is an informational memorandum from the Los Alamos National Laboratory Communications and Public Affairs Office: On Sunday (May 3), during preventive maintenance operations at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE), a Laboratory employee was burned while working at an electrical substation. The employee was transported offsite for medical treatment and is listed in critical condition. Eight other employees were also transported to Los Alamos Medical Center in connection with the accident; seven of those employees were later released, and one employee remains at LAMC for observation. The cause of the accident is under investigation. Due to ongoing activities to ensure the continuing safety of the workforce and facilities, numerous areas at LANSCE are without power and...

According to an internal memo sent to employees and obtained by the Los Alamos Daily Post, Los Alamos National Laboratory issued a memo to employees regarding an incident that occurred Sunday at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE) leaving nine employees injured, one of whom is in critical condition. According to the memo, during preventive maintenance operations at LANSCE, an employee was burned while working at an electrical substation. The employee was transported offsite for medical treatment and is listed in critical condition. Eight other employees were also transported to Los Alamos Medical Center in connection with the accident; seven of those employees were later released and one remains at LAMC for observation. According to the memo, due to the ongoing activities in relation to the accident and to ensure the safety of employees, numerous areas at LANSCE are without power and will remain without power until employees are notified. Employees who normally work at LANSC...

LANL electrical accident in media http://www.kob.com/article/stories/S3785059.shtml?cat=500#.VUbgCJMYG5L