SDSTA recognized for compliance with international standards of quality, environmental, occupational health and safety management
On August 4, the South Dakota Science and Technology Authority was certified in three international standards
The South Dakota Science and Technology Authority (SDSTA) has been recognized for its ownership and operation of the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) in accordance with three standards outlined by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
On August 4, 2022, the Orion Registrar found the SDSTA to be compliant with the following ISO standards: 9001 Quality Management, 14001 Environmental Management, and 45001 Occupational Health and Safety Management. ISO is an independent, non-governmental organization that draws on global expertise to create standards for operation.
“This certification means that we are operating this world-leading facility in a manner that delivers quality services, protects our environment, and keeps our staff, partners and neighbors safe,” said Mike Headley, SDSTA executive director.
The certification is a milestone for the SDSTA, which began the certification effort three years ago. In 2019, the SDSTA signed a Cooperative Agreement with the United States Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science, forming a direct relationship between the DOE and SDSTA. The agreement stipulated that the SDSTA would become compliant with several ISO standards by September 2022. The SDSTA completed the requirement a month early.
“I want to thank the SDSTA team for their hard work in making this a reality,” Headley said.
The SDSTA created an Integrated Management System (IMS) to ensure that all procedures align with the three ISO standards. The process included training and familiarizing SDSTA staff with the IMS.
“It’s all about consistency,” said William McElroy, deputy director for operations. “It’s like playing football: you want everyone to be running the same play. This management system makes us confident that we are all operating on the same play as we do our jobs day-to-day.”
The creation and implementation of the IMS was led by Brad Grismer, quality control and compliance specialist, with the support of Denis Flemming, quality control specialist.
The organization is already experiencing the benefits of having this system in place, Grismer said. “The goal is to take the silos away and make sure that each department is approaching their work in the same way.”
“This organization has some incredible people working here, some with decades of knowledge about the facility. The IMS system has helped us document that knowledge and expertise, so we can benefit from it for years to come,” Flemming said.
The SDSTA will continue to improve the IMS. The certification is valid through August 3, 2025.
“This system provides a consistent framework for the SDSTA as we move forward,” Headley said. “It provides a systematic approach to our work, ensuring that, when we make a commitment to our community and our partners, we will deliver on that commitment.”