(63b) Using PLAYBOOKS – a Unique Strategy In Technical Oversight of Highly Hazardous Operations

The US Army completed VX nerve agent destruction in August 2008 at the chemical weapons disposal facility in Newport, Indiana. Since VX is a very toxic chemical warfare agent, operational errors, mishaps and other unplanned events during handling and destruction are totally unacceptable.

A systems contractor operated the facility; but, the Army had responsibility to ensure operations were safely conducted per laws, regulations and applicable permit conditions. To protect site workers and the surrounding citizenry, a new and unique approach for defining and articulating ?Technical Oversight? of operating preparedness, emergency response, and recovery was created. Technical Oversight was the duty of independent representatives, who were ?certified? by the US Army as ?Government Shift Representatives (GSRs),? and served as the on- scene ?eyes and ears? of the Government Site Project Manager (SPM).The GSR Certification Program utilized a rigorous six-phase process to prepare the GSRs for assignment, including:

1.Overview Training on how to conduct oversight duties

2.Technical Process Training which was the same training received by all plant operators, mechanics, and engineers

3.Required Readings of various plans, procedures, and reference documents

4.Critical Systems Demonstration to communicate understanding of equipment locations and functions

5.Oversight Effectiveness Training on Conduct of Operations topics

6.Oral Board Examinations to confirm readiness for oversight duties.

The key phase, Oversight Effectiveness Training, was based on playbooks, which was the unique medium utilized to ensure uniformity in awareness and understanding between all GSRs. Playbook guidelines were individually prepared by the GSRs on various Conduct of Operations topics, and to ensure consistency, the GSRs participated in Roundtable Sessions focused on discussing the details of each guideline. As with a football playbook, having the entire team learn the plays(guidelines), practice them, and recognize them when called (or directed), maximizes the chances that all team members will perform the right way and exactly the same way every time.

The Newport site utilized this disciplined approach to develop and execute an effective oversight program during the demonstrated safe destruction of 1269 tons of VX nerve agent. With these playbook guidelines serving as the cornerstone of the certification process, a cadre of GSRs possessing the requisite skills and knowledge were available for successfully executing technical oversight of the VX destruction. A similar approach can be used by other projects and programs needing rigorous, consistent oversight.