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October 29, 2026

To the UCOR Workforce:I want to take a moment to recognize an extraordinary milestone: our crews have officially completed surface site restoration at the Alpha-2 footprint.Completing the restoration of this 325,000-square-foot footprint is far more than a checklist item—it is the culmination of a s

October 28, 2026

End of Daylight Savings Time

Daylight Savings Time ends on Sunday, Nov. 1, which means everyone should set their clocks back by one hour to transition back to standard time.While the extra hour we gain by “falling back” is considered less disruptive than the hour we lose when we “spring forward,” your sleep cycle can still be a

October 20, 2026

Preventing the spread of illness

As cold and flu season approaches, taking simple precautions can help prevent the spread of illness. The following simple actions can help protect our workforce and ensure we are ready to safely perform work:Stay home when you’re sick: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends

October 19, 2026

Amentum officials visit Oak Ridge for new headquarters opening

Last Thursday our parent company, Amentum, held a ribbon cutting for its Global Nuclear Headquarters in Oak Ridge. We’re honored that they chose Oak Ridge as home for this important division of Amentum. Please view the video link below to find out more.Best Regards,Jim Blankenhorn UCOR President and

October 7, 2026

Charge into Fire Safety™

The 2026 Fire Prevention Week theme is “Charge into Fire Safety™”. Starting in 1925 as an observance of the 1871 Great Chicago Fire, Fire Prevention week is the longest running public health observance in the United States. The Great Chicago Fire killed approximately 300 people, left 100,000 homeles

October 1, 2026

Reindustrialization team honored

To the UCOR Workforce:I am proud to congratulate the OREM/UCOR Reindustrialization Team on receiving the 2025 Secretary’s Honor Achievement Award of Excellence. Energy Secretary Chris Wright presented the Department of Energy’s highest non-monetary group honor this week in Washington, D.C., with our

September 24, 2026

Demolition of Y-12’s Old Steam Plant

To the UCOR Workforce:I recently visited the Y-12 Old Steam Plant site to witness workers beginning tear-down of the facility. Demolition of this Manhattan Project-era building marks UCOR’s second demolition project at Y-12 this year. Watch the video for my observations in the field.Best Regards,Jim

September 23, 2026

Preventing Slips, Trips, and Falls at Home

According to the National Safety Council, slips, trips, and falls led to nearly 9 million emergency room visits in 2023. The following simple actions can prevent conditions that lead to these incidents.Clean up clutter: Ensure that electrical or charging cords, shoes, clothing, toys, papers, boxes,

September 17, 2026

National Cleanup Workshop

To the UCOR Workforce:I was honored to participate in DOE’s National Cleanup Workshop this week. The Energy Communities Alliance, in cooperation with DOE and the Energy Facility Contractors Group, has been sponsoring the National Cleanup Workshop each September in the Washington, D.C. area since 201

September 16, 2026

The differences between Type I and II hard hats

UCOR is transitioning from the use of traditional Type I to Type II hard hats. What are some of the differences between these hard hats, and why is UCOR making this change?• Type I hard hats are designed to reduce the force of an impact to the top of the head. • Type II hard are designed to reduce t

September 10, 2026

Cleanup creating opportunities

To the UCOR Workforce:Radiant hosted a community open house at the K-25 Interpretive Center last week to share an update on their M-50 facility plant under construction at ETTP Heritage Center. This event was yet another reminder of the importance of Team UCOR’s cleanup work to set the stage for Oak

September 9, 2026

Construction industry substance abuse rates

Recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention studies show that workers in the construction industry have some of the highest rates of substance abuse and overdose deaths in the U.S. —three times the rate of other industries.The Center for Construction Research and Training reports that although

September 3, 2026

Honoring our workforce

To the UCOR Workforce:As we approach Labor Day, I want to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude to each of you. This holiday is more than just a long weekend or the unofficial end of summer—it is a dedicated time to honor you, the hardworking individuals who drive our organization forward an

September 2, 2026

Suicide Prevention Awareness

Safety, at its core, is about ensuring that every single one of us safely goes home the way we came to work—both physically and mentally.September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. We often talk about jobsite hazards like falls, electrical shocks, and struck-by incidents—and rightfully so. Howe

August 27, 2026

Addressing challenges identified in Top Workplaces survey

To the UCOR Workforce:Following this year’s Top Workplaces survey, a team of 12 individuals across the organization performed an in-depth review of employee input. While topics such as our safety culture and mission received positive feedback, the survey also identified some challenges. To address t

August 26, 2026

Power Tool Safety

Taking shortcuts and being complacent can contribute to preventable power tool injuries. Whether at work or home, injuries such as cuts, punctures, crushing, repetitive strains, fractures, burns, electrical shocks, and amputations can occur when using power tools.Either on the job or in your garage,

August 6, 2026

In the Field at ORRL

I recently visited the Oak Ridge Reservation Landfills to view the heart and soul of our “waste factory approach” to cleanup. Landfill management is crucial to ensuring timely and efficient cleanup operations, and we have one of the best teams in the nation. Watch the video to find out more.

August 3, 2026

Isotope Row demolition begins

To the UCOR Workforce:UCOR has embarked on the next chapter of cleanup that is opening opportunities at ORNL’s central campus. On Monday, we began demolishing the first of ten isotope research and production facilities, known collectively as Isotope Row. In addition to eliminating the risk posed by

July 30, 2026

All Hands Meeting Q&As and link to meeting recording

Thanks to everyone who submitted questions for the All Hands Meeting. We are working to get responses to you as quickly as possible. Following are the Q&As so far with the dates published in Newsline. We will continue to update as needed.Note: You can access the video recording of the meeting here.J

July 27, 2026

All Hands Meeting Q&As

Thanks to everyone who submitted questions for the All Hands Meeting. We are working to get responses to you as quickly as possible. Following are the Q&As with the dates published in Newsline.July 23, 2026Q. How will the merger of the new ATLC contract effect the seniority list for each craft?A. Se

July 23, 2026

Key takeaways from All Hands Meeting

To the UCOR Workforce:Thank you for participating in yesterday’s All Hands Meeting. Whether you attended live from block training or remotely across the Oak Ridge Reservation, I appreciate your attendance and attention.As we look ahead, keep UCOR’s values, developed by our Local Safety Improvement T

July 16, 2026

Recognizing our small business partners

To the UCOR Workforce:This morning, I had the pleasure of attending and being a keynote speaker at UCOR’s 14th Annual Small Business Awards ceremony. We recognized six small businesses for their critical contributions to our mission.These small business partners are integral to UCOR fulfilling the D

July 15, 2026

Appropriate Footwear

Footwear requirements vary depending on the work location. Procedure PROC-EH-2000, General Safety Requirements defines footwear requirements for three distinct work areas.Please consult your safety representative if you have questions about the following footwear guidelines for areas in which you wo

July 9, 2026

Note to the workforce: Hitting critical milestones

To the UCOR Workforce:As we head into the final stretch of the fiscal year, I want to thank you for our outstanding accomplishments over the last two months. Your hard work, dedication, and expertise have helped us hit critical milestones across our projects.Some of the key recent achievements inclu