More than 2,000 shipbuilders attended the 2023 Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) Expo last week, where safety task teams used fun and games to deliver important messages about staying safe and healthy at Newport News Shipbuilding.

Employees could choose from 50 booths that offered games and prizes while testing their knowledge of safety issues at NNS.

This was the first expo since 2020, which was held just before the COVID-19 pandemic affected shipyard operations.

“The expo was amazing,” said Brittany Sharon, O27 EH&S task team liaison. “It was great to see everyone’s dedication and hard work on display. The expo is such a great opportunity for Task Teams to showcase their individual and collective contributions to our safety culture here at NNS. We heavily rely on our task teams when it comes to inspecting, recognizing and correcting hazards, and emphasizing safety throughout the yard.”

At the expo, task teams communicated their message through various means. O14 Office Services prepared a video to showcase their strengths, which include digital archiving, records retention and mailroom services, to name three. A spinning-wheel game allowed attendees to answer questions. A bingo-type game also attracted attention.

“We actually had a few of our participants get very competitive,” said Doris McNair (O14).

Another booth featured a mockup of an X33 sandblaster in full PPE. Terrence Thornton started at NNS as a sandblaster and is now an O26 paint instructor. He said “patience and time” are important in the job.

“There is a lot of set up,” he said. “And it is a physical job.”

Jamar Bridgette (X18) helped run a Monopoly-style game that tested attendees’ knowledge. Purchasing a property on the game board required the correct answer to a safety question. For example, what does OSHA stand for?

“On behalf of O27, I would also like to thank everyone who participated and all those who helped to make this event extraordinary,” said Sharon. “We are all looking forward to next year.”

Award-winning booths are listed below:

OBBCO	Best Vendor Booth
CVN 74 EH&S Task Team	Most Educational
Material Logistics EH&S Task Team	Most Ironclad (Best in Show)
Reactor Store Room EH&S Task Teams	Most Interactive