Charter
Construction Safety Advisory Committee
US Department of Energy
1.0 PURPOSE
This charter describes the function and role of the
Department of Energy (DOE) Construction Safety Advisory
Committee (CSAC). The DOE CSAC is an advisory body
formed to provide the Office of Health, Safety and
Security (HSS) field input and perspective in the
development and maintenance of DOE construction safety
program guidance and in review and resolution of identified
generic construction safety issues. The CSAC also
serves as a Topical Committee to provide advice and
support on construction safety related issues to the
DOE Technical Standards Program (TSP).
2.0 BACKGROUND
The Office of Worker Safety and Health Policy (HS-11)
has the responsibility for developing and maintaining
construction safety requirements and guidance documents
for DOE, providing representation for the Department
on national consensus standards bodies addressing
construction safety, and providing comments to OSHA
on any proposed rulemaking activity involving construction
safety. The establishment of a CSAC will foster an
increased level of discussion and coordination on
construction safety program concerns and guidance
among DOE program and field elements. In addition,
the CSAC will provide a mechanism to gain an operational
perspective in the development of program guidance
and in the resolution of program issues and will aid
in ensuring uniform construction safety criteria and
implementation throughout the DOE complex.
3.0 FUNCTION
This committee is established to provide HS-11 with
program and field advice and input in the development,
implementation, and maintenance of the DOE construction
safety program. In fulfillment of this mission, the
committee will perform the following function at the
request of HS-11:
| 3.1 |
Provide input and support to HS-11
in drafting or revising DOE construction safety
policies, guidance and standards. |
| 3.2 |
Interface with non-DOE standards
development bodies (e.g., OSHA, ANSI,) on activities
which may have impact upon construction safety
in DOE. This may include review and comment on
construction safety program guidance, policies,
standards, and regulations published by these
organizations as well as direct participation
on activities having greater significance to construction
safety in the DOE. |
| 3.3 |
Evaluate proposed technical training
courses for construction management and construction
safety personnel. |
| 3.4 |
Review and recommend the need for
policy or guidance as solutions to generic construction
safety issues arising from construction safety
assessments of DOE sites. |
| 3.5 |
Conduct special interest projects at the direction
of HS-11. Typical projects may include:
3.5.1 Analyses of DOE construction accident/incident
data and/or inspection results to identify trends
and advise on corrective actions;
3.5.2 Research available literature to develop
recommended guidance for DOE unique situations
and for situations where little or no construction
safety guidance is available; or
3.5.3 Research and review available guidance
and interpretations to assist in the resolution
of generic construction safety related issues.
|
| 3.6 |
The CSAC shall act in the capacity
of a TSP topical committee to the TSP Office for
construction safety. It will practice and promote
cooperation between other TSP technical committees
in areas of common interest. |
| 3.7 |
Participate with representatives
of other topical committees and the Technical
Standards Program (TSP) manager to establish guidance
and protocols for topical committee operations
under the TSP.
|
4.0 SPONSORSHIP
CSAC shall perform the duties as a standing technical
committee sponsored by the Office of Worker Safety
and Health Policy (HS-11) The following principles
will govern its operation:
| 4.1 |
Openness
Participation in HS-11's policy, guidance and
standards development process will be open to
persons who are directly and materially affected
by the activity in question.
|
| 4.2 |
Balance of Interests
Activities undertaken by the committee will
ensure representation of all categories of interest
that relate to the subject matter.
|
| 4.3 |
Due Process
The process will ensure that any individual
or organization within DOE who believes that
an action or inaction of the committee causes
unreasonable hardship or potential harm is provided
the opportunity to have a fair hearing of their
concerns.
|
| 4.4 |
Reporting
The CSAC will report on construction safety
policy and guidance related activities to the
Director of the Office of Worker Safety and
Health Policy (HS-11) on a frequency that is
appropriate to the activity and consistent with
program needs.
|
5.0 MEMBERSHIP
| 5.1 |
CSAC members shall consist of DOE and DOE contractor
employees whose normal job duties include program
management or operational direction of construction
safety. Members shall be nominated by their
management based on their construction safety
expertise and on the needs of the committee.
Membership of the CSAC shall to the greatest
extent possible provide a fair and balanced
representation of the entire DOE complex.
|
| 5.2 |
Subcommittees may be formed at the discretion
of the chairperson to focus on special topics.
Subcommittees shall consist of CSAC members
with experience and/or an interest in the specific
function of the subcommittee. A subcommittee
chairperson shall be appointed by the chairperson
and shall serve for the duration of the subcommittee,
until relieved by the Chairperson or until resignation
or retirement.
|
| 5.3 |
On DOE policy issues, only DOE employees have
a vote.
|
6.0 OFFICERS
| 6.1 |
Chairperson
The CSAC chairperson will be selected by the
Director of the Office of Worker Safety and
Health Policy (HS-11). The chairperson performs
duties discussed above and presides over committee
meetings.
|
| 6.2 |
Coordinator
Keep and distribute minutes of committee meetings,
handle committee correspondence, arrange and
coordinate committee meetings and activities
with the aid of the host location, and preside
over meetings in the absence of the chairperson.
|
| |
|
7.0 MEETINGS
| 7.1 |
Frequency
Regular meetings will be planned annually and
will be formally called by the chairperson.
Frequency of the meetings may be adjusted by
the chairperson based on current activities
and/or needs.
|
| 7.2 |
Agenda
Agendas will be developed for each meeting
based on input from the members, assignments
from the chairperson, etc. Written notices of
meetings and the agenda will be prepared and
communicated to the CSAC members in advance
of the meeting.
|
| |
|
8.0 VOTING
| 8.1 |
Regular Meetings
When proposed issues or resolutions are presented
to the CSAC at the regular meetings and warrant
action by the CSAC, the chairperson may call
for a vote. The following guidelines will govern
the voting process:
|
| |
8.1.1 Three voting options will be to given
the members present:
Agree
Disagree (with or without comment)
Abstain (with or without comment)
|
| |
8.1.2 A count of the votes will be recorded
in the minutes of the meeting. If a member chooses
to comment with a vote of Disagree or Abstain,
then the member's name will be included in the
minutes along with the comment.
|
| |
8.1.3 A simple majority approval
of members present at the time of the vote is
required for an issue to pass. |
| |
|
| 8.2 |
Letter Ballots |
| |
There may be occasions outside the
regular meetings when the chairperson will seek
input to issues presented to the CSAC. A letter
ballot process may be initiated to resolve these
issues. The following guidelines will govern the
letter ballot process: |
| |
8.2.1 Ballots will be sent to all members of
the CSAC. Four voting choices will be listed
on the ballot:
Agree [ ]
Agree [ ]
Disagree [ ]
Abstain with Comment [ ]
|
| |
8.2.2 Any member who fails to respond
to a ballot by the established deadline will be
counted as Abstaining.
|
| |
8.2.3 First Ballot Consideration:
One or more "Disagree" votes causes
the ballot to fail, unless the "Disagree"
vote(s) is changed to "approved" due
to comment resolution.
|
| |
8.2.4 Second Ballot Considerations:
A simple majority approval of non-abstaining members
is required for a ballot to pass.
|
| |
8.2.5 A summary of actions taken
by letter ballot since the previous meeting will
be presented at each meeting and included in the
minutes of the meeting.
|
Approved: Jeffrey D. Feit, Manager
DOE Technical Standards Program
|
Approved: Patrick F. Finn, Chairperson
DOE Construction Safety Advisory Committee
|
|
|
