Complete Issue 1993-Winter-part 2
DOE/EH-0245 Winter 1993/1994 (Part 2)
THE SAFETY CONNECTION
Assistant Secretary for Environment, Safety and Health
U.S. Department of Energy
Washington, DC 20585
SAFETY PROGRAMS AND ISSUES AT THE DOE POWER ADMINISTRATIONS
The power marketing administrations vary in operational
responsibilities and activities, geographic scope (see Figure 1,
page 2), and workforce size and distribution between Federal
employees and contractors and among office and field personnel.
As the following descriptions show, each of the power
administrations shaped its safety programs to meet the demands of
its unique set of functions and circumstances.
Alaska Maintains a Strong Safety Record
The Alaska Power Administration owns, operates, and maintains two
Federal hydroelectric projects, making Alaska Power the only
power administration to generate, as well as market, electricity.
The 30,000-kilowatt (kW) Eklutna Project, completed in 1954,
provides about 5 percent of the power to the Anchorage-Palmer
area. The 78,000-kW Snettisham Project, which began generating
hydropower in the 1970s, added a third generator in the late
1980s, and now supplies over 80 percent of Juneau's power. The
Snettisham Project is located in remote, rugged terrain, and is
accessible only by air or boat.
Environment, safety and health (ES&H) manager Robert Waldman
traces Alaska Power's strong safety record to good practices
established when the power administration was managed by the
Department of the Interior's Bureau of Reclamation. Reclamation
standards for electrical generation met or exceeded the standards
later developed by the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA).
The size and quality of the staff have contributed to
Alaska's history of safe operations. Alaska Power currently
employs 34 staff members, whom Mr. Waldman describes as "very
experienced and professional senior people." With a staff this
size, "anyone can walk into a manager's office," he explains, "to
discuss and resolve safety concerns when they arise." Frequent
"tailgate" safety meetings also keep communication flowing.
For the last 2 years, Alaska Power has worked toward
formalizing its safety program and assuring compliance with
Department of Energy (DOE) standards. For example, ES&H
responsibilities were recently separated by line and staff
functions.
Mr. Waldman now provides guidance and oversight from the
Administrators Office, while an ES&H specialist in the Power
Division develops procedures and works with ES&H coordinators at
each site. Similarly, specific programs in areas such as hazard
communication, crane safety, and confined space entry have become
more formal.
Currently, Alaska Power is focusing its attention on
aviation safety. Because of Snettisham's geographic isolation,
personnel must fly in and out of the facility at every shift
change. Alaska Power is working with DOE's aviation safety
program to review management of the chartered flight service
contracts to determine if changes are needed to enhance safety.
Bonneville Makes Safety a Number One Priority
Historically, the Bonneville Power Administration places safety
at the center of its operations, as evidenced by its motto: "No
job is so important and no service so urgent that we cannot take
the time to do our job safely." As a major power distributor for
the states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and western Montana,
Bonneville employees about 5,000 Federal and contractor
personnel. Craft workers and their supervisors maintain power
lines; construct, operate, and maintain substations; and provide
power system control and protective maintenance. Harvey L.
Haven, Manager of the Safety Department, attributes Bonneville's
good safety record to employee safety consciousness and
management support. Everyone's effort counts-from the
Administrator to employees in the field who follow the principle,
"If you think something isn't safe, don't do it."
Employee Involvement
Mr. Haven noted that "employees are taught to integrate
safety at every step" and are repeatedly "reminded to work safely
and not to take shortcuts." Whenever possible, safety problems
are solved where they arise-by work groups and their supervisors.
Well-received training also helps maintain safety. Some
employees even seek more than the extensive safety training
required by their jobs. For example, many Bonneville office
employees request the American Red Cross training in first aid
and cardiopulmonary resuscitation, which is provided but not
required of office staff.
Safety Committees
Bonneville Power Administration uses safety committees to
facilitate communication, problem solving, and policy setting.
Widely distributed meeting minutes keep all employees informed of
every committee action and decision. At the field level, each
Bonneville district holds an "all-hands" monthly safety meeting
to educate employees on current topics of concern. The meetings
solve safety problems by presenting successful solution developed
by individual work groups. Safety committees also serve as
"committees of the whole" to address and solve problems affecting
several groups.
In addition, each area or division has its own supervisory
safety committee, which is composed of labor representatives and
superintendents for the various crafts. The area committees
address problems not resolved at the field level. because
representatives of unions in the Columbia Power Trades Council
participate with supervisors and managers, these committees also
function as employee-management safety committees. Problems not
solved at the area level are forwarded to Bonneville's safety and
health policymaking body, the Central Safety and Health
Committee. Chaired by the Deputy Assistant Administrator for
Operations and Maintenance, the Central Committee consists of
operations and maintenance managers and division directors, as
well as area committee technical representatives.
Safety Audits
The Bonneville Power Administration safety office conducts
annual OSHA inspections of all workplaces attended by management
and labor representatives. On occasion, auditors from the
Washington State Industrial Safety and Health Administration and
Oregon's OSHA have inspected Bonneville's efforts to meet all
applicable standards.
Southeastern Focuses on Office and Travel Safety
The Southeastern Power Administration employs 43 Federal workers
in its Elberton, Georgia, office. This staff markets power from
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects and negotiates
contracts and rates with customers. According to Safety Officer
Carol Rice, Southeastern's safety program deals with the concerns
typical of employees in any office environment and on travel
status, such as safe driving, proper lifting techniques, and
ergonomically correct computer workstations. Furthermore,
employees participate in fire drills and evacuation exercises,
and attend training and awareness sessions that include
individual security awareness programs, defensive driving
classes, and office safety videos.
Southwestern Management and Employees Identify Safety Issues
The Southwestern Power Administration markets power generated at
24 Federal hydroelectric projects within Kansas, Oklahoma,
Missouri, Arkansas, Texas, and Louisiana. Southwestern's
Headquarters office is located in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Four
maintenance units, located in Springfield, Missouri; Jonesboro,
Arkansas; and Gore and Tupelo, Oklahoma, maintain 24 substations
and 1,380 miles of transmission lines. The new Office of
Environment, Safety, Health, and Security, established under the
Administrator's Office, was created during Southwestern's 1990
reorganization. The safety office works to ensure the safety of
Southwestern's 200 employees, which include support services
contractors, with guidance from the functional areas defined in
DOE's Five-Year Safety and Health Plan. The plan delineates
strategies, programs, and priorities to reduce and manage safety
and health risks.
Darlene Low, Occupational Safety and Health Department
Manager for Southwestern Power, reports that she recently
completed a 6-month safety survey, which focused on identifying
safety issues of concern to employees and management. Ms. Low
spent many hours observing and interviewing crews from various
sites and job types, including employees at substations, those
who install and maintain power lines, contractors, and crews
installing fiber-optic equipment. In discussing the survey, she
identified several major safety issues and described selected
actions being taken to address them.
Personal Protective Grounds
Personal protective grounds, if properly installed, form a
worker's last defense against accidental or inadvertent
energization of the equipment being serviced. When employees
emphasized the importance of consistent grounding methods at
every site, management responded by working to ensure that
grounding techniques were standardized.
Relays
Relays are the EKGs of the electrical transmission system.
Relays monitor the system's condition, and when abnormalities
occur, they tell other protective equipment to operate. If the
setting is too sensitive, relays disrupt the power supply
unnecessarily; if not sensitive enough, they may fail to
eliminate a hazard. Southwestern's engineers are checking all
relays to ensure that they are properly set.
Electromagnetic Fields
Electromagnetic fields present an issue of growing concern
to Southwestern's employees and the surrounding community.
Southwestern's actions include the following:
(1) Informing workers of any new information from studying
new research conducted by other organizations.
(2) Providing information in response to worker inquiries.
Other Identified Issues
Like employees throughout the country, Southwestern
personnel are concerned about compliance with new OSHA standards,
such as the confined space rule. Employees also reported that
top management should spend more time on job sites. For more
information on Southwestern's safety survey, contact Darlene Low
(Southwestern) at (918)581-7424.
Western Area Power Safety Issues and
Successes
Western Area Power Administration markets and transmits
hydroelectric power in 15 western states. Agency employees
operate and maintain more than 16,000 miles of high voltage
transmission lines linking more than 300 substations. The agency
employs many of its nearly 1,400 Federal employees in high-risk
electrical utility occupations. In addition, Western uses about
100 contractors to construct transmission lines and facilities
and perform service tasks supporting transmission system
operations. Western contract construction costs exceed $100
million annually for building, lines, and substation projects.
Employee Concerns and External Reviews
With the high-risk exposures of the electrical utility and
construction missions, safety is of paramount importance.
Western's safety programs are employee-driven and dedicated to
preventing personal injury and economic losses in the workplace.
Safety program development has resulted from agency growth in the
safety arena. To continue moving the safety program forward,
Western contracted a well-known utility safety consulting firm to
perform a chartered review of Western operations and safety
programs. In response to the results of the review, Western
commissioned numerous action committees and specific individuals
to develop implementation methods, measures, policies, and
timelines to adopt the review recommendations.
Aggressive employee response has also resulted in cultural
change, improved communications, and improved employee
perceptions of management and its desire for a safe and accident-
free workplace. One vehicle to inform Western employees of
safety changes and occurrences is a Western-produced, quarterly
safety video. This production, which uses a newscast format,
includes both brief summaries and longer features. Western
employees are proud of the production, considering it Western's
version of "20/20," a popular night-time news program.
Management Visibility
Although issues may change, Western's aggressive approach to
resolution does not. Recent years have brought numerous changes
in occupational safety requirements covering fall protection,
lockout/tagout, bloodborne pathogens, ergonomics, and other
topics. The need to establish implementation programs and train
employees keeps safety activities highly visible.
Western managers work under the philosophy that "management
visibility cannot be delegated." Executive management is present
and visible to both Western employees and construction
contractors alike. Because emphasis on the need for an accident-
free workplace is stated and restated, line managers know their
safety decisions will be supported.
Training
Supervisory safety training is a successful ongoing program
that provides supervisors and potential supervisors with the
tools to better meet their responsibilities. Safety staff have
trained more than 300 persons in just the past few months.
Construction management safety training is another program
of significance in meeting Western safety objectives. The
concept of partnering, or joining together for mutual benefit, is
demonstrated dramatically when construction managers include the
contractors in joint safety training sessions with Western
construction management staff. Western's successes in this area
are reflected in the attitudes of management, employees, and
contractors, who view the Western program efforts as "accident
prevention" of the highest order.
IMPRINTING SAFETY TRAINING--A METHOD OF REDUCING BACK INJURY COSTS
Back injuries continue to be a leading cause of work-related
mishaps! This is an obvious fact, proven by numerous safety
surveys and analyses. Back injury problems are prevalent in DOE,
just as they are in general industry. Therefore, the question
remains, what is a realistic solution? One answer may be
employee training. You may ask: "What's so new about employee
training?" Continue reading.
When we think of back injury training, images of
standardized and symptomatic employee safety training films,
posters, and back care clinics come to mind. To sum it up in one
word, boring. However, if you analyze the safety training, the
main reason it does not produce better results is because it
fails to ensure the worker transfers the newfound knowledge to
the actual work environment. For instance, we have all heard of
the worker who returned from safety training and injured his
lower back because he was lifting improperly.
We know that one of the most effective ways to reinforce the
transfer of training knowledge is by performance-based training,
in which the worker learns by performing the work. So it seemed
reasonable to LLNL staff that workers could perform their tasks
without hurting themselves if they actually experienced on the
job what the proper procedure felt like, whether it was lifting
equipment, pulling hoses, or carrying injured victims during an
emergency response. With this in mind, LLNL contacted a
professional training organization to see if a specialized method
for reducing lost work and restricted work days and associated
costs would work for LLNL firefighters. The training results
were excellent. In fact, they were so significant that the
methods are still being used.
The firefighters initially attended an 8-hour workshop.
Afterwards, they received a 4-hour reinforcement/refresher course
approximately every 12 to 18 months. Basically, the method
teaches how to automatically and properly perform specific tasks
while using the correct muscle groups. The instructors first
showed the firefighters how to build strength through specific
effort-from routine lifting to critical responses, such as
medical transports and victim extrications. The firefighters
experienced what it felt like to do their activities correctly
using proper muscle action for breathing (i.e., diaphragm
control). This was reinforced each time they did their
activities until it became second nature (was imprinted) and
carried over to similar activities in daily life. Even at home
they would routinely lift and pull or push correctly.
This self-learning is similar to acquiring the ability to
dance or box. A boxer must control muscle response to breathe
properly from the start of the fight, otherwise he would not be
able to finish the first round. Another example of this
automatic reflex, or imprinted work behavior, can be
psychologically related to driving a car. An experienced driver
does not have to concentrate on driving. He or she can carry on
a conversation, listen to tapes, eat, and look at the countryside
while driving. Work behavior modification techniques are equally
effective when applied to other occupations. Examples include
police officers, paramedics, nurses, technical crafts people, and
others in physically demanding or environmentally changing work
arenas.
Besides work behavior modification, some firefighters added
weight conditioning to their training, although it was not
necessarily needed. Their idea was to truly harden and
strengthen their bodies without injuring themselves.
Nevertheless, improper exercise techniques often create injuries
later on in the workplace. For example, weight training for
strong arms can cause inappropriate responses when transporting a
patient on a backboard down a narrow flight of stairs. With this
type of muscle memory training, an unanticipated shift of the
patient's weight or a falter by one of the other carriers might
trigger the carrier to tighten his arms rather than using the
larger muscle groups of the legs and pelvis. The result would
quite possibly be a back injury.
Before this new, specialized program, the number of lost and
restricted work days were much higher at LLNL's Fire Department.
The graph (shown above) indicates a substantial reduction in
costs associated with injuries since LLNL began using the new
methods. Frequently, personnel had to medically retire because
of disabling injuries, particularly back-related disabilities.
With the imprinting program, the injury rate has been
significantly reduced, making the firefighting force more
physically ready and able to perform their tasks. The course
consists of the following:
o Showing workers the correct physical methods in a
controlled environment.
o Showing workers how to properly perform their work
activities while using their own equipment for routine
tasks and emergency response activities.
o Teaching workers what it feels like to become stronger
through specialized, job-specific, strength-building
skills.
o Imprinting workers with the proper way to perform their
activities.
To obtain more information about imprinted safety training,
contact Professional Safeguard Resources Corporation at (415)924-
7014.
Safety Bulletins Available
Take Special Care When Using Cranes
DOE/EH-0342
Issue No. 93-6
November 1993
Ladders: Familiarity Breeds Complacency
DOE/EH-0304
Issue No. 93-5
June 1993
The Fire Below: Spontaneous Combustion in Coal
DOE/EH-0320
Issue No. 93-4
May 1993
Mixing of Incompatible Chemicals
DOE/EH-0296
Issue No. 93-2
February 1993
Safety Notes Available
DOE Hoisting and Rigging Manual
DOE/EH-0341
Issue No. 93-8
October 1993
Recall of Three-Pole F and KC/KI Low-Voltage Molded Case Circuit
Breakers
DOE/EH-0329
Issue No. 93-7
July 1993
Labeling Errors Cause Accidents
DOE/EH-0328
Issue No. 93-6
July 1993
Vehicle Liftgates - Hazardous Unless Used Cautiously and Properly
DOE/EH-0308
Issue No. 93-4
May 1993
DOE Occupational Safety and Health Standards Interpretation
Response Line
DOE-EH-0314
Issue No. 93-3
April 1993
Construction Injury Data Analysis
DOE/EH-0310
Issue No. 93-2
March 1993
New Confined Space Standard Expected to Protect Workers from
Dangers of Confined Spaces
DOE/EH-0298
Issue No. 93-1
February 1993
To receive copies of the Safety Bulletins or Safety Notes, call
(615) 576-7548.
ACRONYM LIST
DNFSB Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board
DOE Department of Energy
EH Office of Environment, Safety and Health
EM Office of Environmental Restoration and Waste Management
ES&H environment, safety and health
HR Office of Human Resources and Administration
LANL Los Alamos National Laboratory
LLNL Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
MMES Martin Marietta Energy Systems, Inc.
ORISE Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education
OSH occupational safety and health
OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Administration
TRADE Training Resources and Data Exchange
VPP Voluntary Protection Program
SAFETY INITIATIVES
Implementation Plan for DNFSB Recommendation 93-3 in Development
Congress created the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board
(DNFSB) in 1989 to provide advice and recommendations to the
Secretary of Energy regarding public health and safety at DOE
defense nuclear facilities. The five-member Board also assesses
safety management and personnel effectiveness both within the
Department and various management and operation contractors.
DNFSB may conduct investigations, hold public hearings, gather
information, conduct studies, establish reporting requirements
for DOE, and take other actions. Based upon its reviews, the
Board may submit recommendations to the Secretary of Energy.
After accepting a recommendation, the Secretary must prepare an
implementation plan. DNFSB reports annually to Congress and, if
it determines that an imminent or severe treat to public health
or safety exists, the Board must transmit its recommendations
directly to the President, as well as the Secretary.
Recommendation 93-3, Improving DOE Technical Capability in
Defense Nuclear Facility Programs, was issued by DNFSB in June
1993. The Board observed that "the most important and far-
reaching problem affecting the safety of DOE defense nuclear
facilities is the difficulty in attracting and retaining
personnel who are adequately qualified by technical education and
experience to provide the kind of management, direction, and
guidance essential to safe operation of DOE's defense nuclear
facilities." A number of specific actions, including
establishing a technical personnel manager within the Office of
the Secretary, conducting a variety of internal initiatives,
using independent external assessments, and performing indepth
internal assessments were recommended by the Board.
The Department has initiated a number of steps to develop an
implementation plan in response to Recommendation 93-3. While
the plan will address defense nuclear facilities specifically,
DOE is considering extending the applicability of the
recommendation to all facilities. Drafts of the implementation
plan have been circulated to Operations Offices and key
stakeholders throughout the complex for review and comment.
The committee that was formed to lead development forwarded
the implementation plan to Secretary O'Leary for signature on
November 4, 1993. Committee members are Chairman Tom Evans,
Technical Personnel Program Coordinator (HR-1.5); Anita Sciacca,
Office of Human Resources and Administration (HE-323); Len
Sjostrom, Assistant Manager for Environmental Restoration and
Solid Waste, DOE Savannah River Operations Office (SR), who
represented the field and EM; and Mark Gilbertson, Office of
Environment, Safety and Health (EH-5).
During a senior management briefing in mid-September 1993,
committee members described four major components of the plan:
training and qualification leadership within DOE, contractor
initiatives, Federal employee initiatives, and special programs.
For additional information, contact Tom Evans (HR-1.5) at (202)
586-38887.
Implementation Guidance Issued For Accelerator Safety Order
The Offices of Defense Programs and Energy Research (ER) jointly
issued guidance for implementing DOE Order 5480.25, Safety of
Accelerator Facilities, on September 16, 1993. The Order
initiated by ER and published November 3, 1992, defines safety
program requirements for accelerator facilities located on DOE
sites and those subject to DOE contractual responsibility for
safety and health.
The implementation guidance for DOE Order 5480.25 was sent
to DOE Operations and Area Offices for appropriate transmittal to
contractors. DeVaughn Nelson, ER-8, the ER Project Management
for DOE Order 5480.25 expected the guidance to be issued to most
contractors by November 1, 1993. Contractors will have 6 months
to submit their implementation plans after receiving the
guidance.
DOE Order 5480.25 and its guidance were developed by ER,
with input from DOE program offices, Operations Offices, ES&H
specialists, and contractor personnel who design and operate DOE
accelerator facilities. Many of the requirements of the Order
parallel those for nuclear facilities; however, DOE 5480.25 sets
forth a safety program that deals specifically with accelerators.
"Where there are differences between accelerators and
nuclear facilities, it makes sense to spell them out," said Mr.
Nelson. DOE Order 5480.25 "brings accelerator operations under
one safety umbrella, and is intended to provide for a safety
level comparable to that required of nuclear facilities." For
more information on the guidance issued to implement DOE Order
5480.25, please contact DeVaughn Nelson (ER-8) at (301) 903-5608.
CURRENT PROJECTS
TRADE Conference Offers Record Number of Events
by Lisa Carroll, ORISE
Lessons learned and good practices for integrating training
requirements and expectations were major themes of the 17th
Annual TRADE (Training Resources and Data Exchange) Conference
held November 15-17, 1993 in Indianapolis, IN. More than 850 DOE
and contractor personnel attended the 330 presentations, poster
sessions, exhibits, special meetings, and workshops.
At the opening session, Jack Clark, President and General
Manager of EG&G Mound Applied Technologies, the conference host
facility, and Larry Kirkman, Dayton Area Manager, welcomed
participants. Mr. Clark challenged attendees to "think outside
the box" about ways to improve skills, knowledge, and attitudes.
Mr. Kirkman observed that the conference could give DOE "a good
return on its investment" because sharing information maximizes
the changes for solving problems with a minimal use of resources.
"Total Customer Satisfaction:" Motorola's Approach to Quality
Keynote speaker Paul Noakes, Vice-President and Director for
External Quality Programs, Motorola, Inc., described the programs
and policies that have boosted Motorola's competitiveness and
earned the company its reputation as a leader in quality
management. He listed several components that continued to
Motorola's success, including focusing on total customer
satisfaction; frequent benchmarking through site visits and face-
to-face meetings; and emphasizing the "basics," such as education
and training, employee empowerment, and systems for recognition
and awards.
Luncheon Speakers Provide Perspectives on DOE
Tom Evans, Technical Personnel Program Coordinator, HR-1.5,
spoke of DOE's need for technical excellence. Mr. Evans reported
that the DNFSB has accepted DOE's plan for implementing a
technical training and qualification program as recommended by
the DNFSB. He stressed that DOE would expect even more sharing
of training resources as a key to improving Federal and
contractor qualifications. Ray Gibson, Director of
Administrative Management, Office of Planning and Resource
Management, EM-12, discussed new directions in EM for the
training and education of personnel in environmental restoration
and waste management. One recent initiative is "START", a core
training program for new EM employees.
ES&H Training Prominent in TRADE Awards
Martin Marietta Energy Systems, Inc., (MMES) won two of
three annual TRADE Awards of Excellence presented for successful
training programs that are shared with other facilities. The
Nuclear Criticality Safety Training Program, developed at the
Postsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant, is a 40-hour, performance-
based course designed to instruct supervisors of fissile material
handlers about nuclear criticality safety pertaining to MMES
plants. This program has been transferred successfully to West
Valley Nuclear Services Company, Inc., and Fernald Environmental
Restoration Management Corporation (FERMCO). For more
information about this training program, contact Mike Martin
(MMES) at (615)576-6735.
Computer-based Training for Environmental Compliance
developed by Energy Systems Training and Development brought MMES
its second award. Essentially a series of computer-based
training courses developed for environmental officers to ensure
awareness of and the ability to perform oversight
responsibilities, the courses aim to answer the questions raised
most by environmental officers and eliminate the most serious
noncompliance issues. Other DOE facilities that have benefitted
from this program include the Los Alamos National Laboratory
(LANL) and the K-25 Plant. Contact Helen Pfuderer (MMES) at
(615) 576-7790 for more information.
Westinghouse Savannah River Company (WSRC) won the third
award for TRAIN (Training Records and Information Network), a
comprehensive, computer-based training support database designed
to schedule and record employee training. The ORACLE-based
system, developed at WSRC, consists of seven modules to allow
enhancements such as forecasting, analyzing, and projecting
future training needs; automated scheduling of courses and
classes; and scheduling and reserving classrooms and facilities.
TRAIN has been implemented in several other sites including the
Pinellas Plant and Idaho National Engineering Laboratory. For
more information, contact Marilyn Winn (WSRC) at (803) 644-4960.
Norm Bailey, who recently retired from LLNL, received
TRADE's Jack Brewer Award for his contributions in emergency
management. The Brewer Award is given to an active TRADE
participant who has made an outstanding contribution to human
resource development and training in the DOE system by sharing
ideas, information, and resources.
Safety Programs and Training
Three conference tracks and numerous poster sessions
centered around worker safety and the role of training in
protecting it. Other tracks focused on training requirements,
DOE hot topics, and quality management. Speakers described new
ES&H initiatives and safety programs for specific operational
areas, some of which are highlighted below.
o Larry Dosser and Steven Siewecki of EG&G Mound described
the comprehensive program that Mound's laser safety
committee developed and shared with other DOE sites and
industries. For more information, contact Larry Dosser
at (513)865-4046.
o Steve Levitskuy and Richard Daniels presented training
and other aspects of heavy equipment operation at the
Superconducting Supercollider, including the overhead
crane operator qualification course. Consisting of 16
hours of instruction and a 1-hour performance
evaluation, the course covers hoisting and rigging
equipment, procedures, and applicable standards.
Training manuals, job aids, and other materials are
available from Steve Levitsky at (214) 708-5483.
o Deborah Mulligan and Dwight Miller explained the process
that Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) has followed in
developing its ergonomics program. For more information
on this program, call Dwight Miller at (505) 945-9803.
o In "Classroom Chameleon," LaDonna Wray of Westinghouse
Hanford Corporation (WHC) described techniques to
effective maintenance training, including training in
safe work practices. For more information, contract
LaDonna Wray at (509) 372-1553.
Other speakers delineated systematic approaches to ES&H
established at their facilities.
o Paula Barton, Mary Grant, and Perry Depew conducted a
session on Allied Signal Aerospace Company, Kansas City
Division's Hazardous Materials Information System, which
is used to assure plant compliance with OSHA and
environmental requirements. Contract Paula Barton at
(816) 997-4733 for more information.
o T.J. Sarlina described a program developed by Fermi
National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab) to assure
that managers understand and implement the ES&H
requirements applicable to Fermilab's research
facilities' operations. Results of the program reduced
OSHA-type deficiencies, provided the ability to focus on
issues with broad impact rather than numerous small
concerns, and allowed uniform implementation of various
types of new programs. For more information, call T.J.
Sarlina at (708) 840-3299.
o Dean Hayden, Mark Hubbard, and Frank Williams developed
OSHA Training Decision Flow Diagrams to help WSRC
supervisors determine OSHA training requirements on the
basis of tasks performed by employees. Contract Dean
Hayden or Mark Hubbard at (803) 725-8825 or (803) 644-
5801 respectively, for more information.
Computer-based Training
A series of sessions devoted to computer-based training and
interactive video addressed topics ranging from approach to needs
assessment. The presentations indicated, however, that advanced
training technologies may not always be the most effective and
cost-efficient alternatives to classroom instruction.
Bonnie Spencer, Reynolds Electrical and Engineering Company
(REECo), and Don Barnes, WSRC, presented an overview of the media
and the criteria affecting choice. Jim Glasmann, Computer-based
Training Manager at WSRC, described an information and analysis
package used to determine the feasibility of computer-based
training for specific applications and guide identification of
training priorities. For more information, call Jim Galsmann at
(803) 644-4912.
Similarly, another session conducted by Mark King, FERMCO,
provided an overview of considerations for implementing computer-
based training. The session included a demonstration of an
interactive training program using touch-screen technology. For
further information, call Mark King at (513) 648-7331.
TRADE attendees also participated in demonstrations at the
Technical Information Services (TIS) training post given by Carla
Cavaiani and Sam Ramirez of EG&G Idaho, INC. TIS Technology
revolutionizes the way ES&H professional work and communicate by
offering current information through access to a network of
integrated databases using a modem or internet, a high-speed
communication line. TIS also offers file transfer, electronic
mail and bulletin board services. Additional information is
available by calling Carla Cavaiani at (800) 473-4375, E-mail at
(support@tis.inel.gov).
A list of computer-based training and interactive courseware
operating at DOE facilities is available through the TRADE
Special Interest Group (SIG) for Advanced Training Technologies.
Contact Ashley Ayers Smith of Oak Ridge Associated Universities
(ORAU) at (615) 576-2243.
SIGs and Workshops
Thirteen TRADE SIGs held steering committee meetings and
workshops during and just after the conference. On November 18,
1993, the Advanced Training Technologies and Quality Management
SIGs and EG&G Idaho's Office of Training and Technical Assistance
offered training workshops in topics such as authoring computer-
based training, performing independent assessments, and
evaluating training effectiveness. Other special meetings
covered such topics as maintenance training, fiscal management,
and criticality safety.
Occupational Safety SIG
The TRADE Occupational Safety Special Interest Group (OS
SIG) conducted a 1 1/2-day workshop on November 17-18, 1993. The
agenda included reports on literacy and safety; accident
investigation; behavioral safety; DOE-VPP; OSHWPP; and specific
OSHA standard covering process safety management, Hazardous Waste
Operations and Emergency Response, and confined space entry.
Glenn Florczak, Occupational Safety and Health Training
Manager, EH-312, provided attendees with a DOE-VPP update. He
encouraged the development of exceptional OSH programs by site
staff and said "if DOE is going to come into excellence in safety
and health, DOE-VPP is the way we're going to do it." For more
information, contact Sanjeeva Kanth (EG-312) at (301) 903-4516.
Don Creekmore of MMES in Oak Ridge presented an overview of
DOE's OSHWPP, which was designed to demonstrate how successful
program elements can be transferred from one site to another.
Mr. Creekmore made special mention of EG&G Idaho's Hazard
Communication Program that is being piloted at ANL-E. This pilot
training program will be offered by TRADE's Industrial Hygiene
Special Interest Group during 1994 in either WordPerfect for DOS
or Macintosh Word. Contact Ed Patigalia (EH-313) at (301) 903-
3972 for more information.
Jon Juette, Manager of Health and Safety Training at WHC,
discussed future OS SIG activities including a health and safety
acronym book, an accident investigation guide, and safety meeting
guide, and a possible bank of health and safety exams for use by
trainers. Mr. Juette also announced the TRADE OS SIG Spring
Workshop which will take place March 15-17, 1994, in Alexandria,
VA. To inquire about the OS SIG, call Avagene Moore at (615)
762-4768.
Occurrence Reporting SIG
The Occurrence Reporting (OR) SIG comprises a network of
individuals interested in developing and implementing activities
that standardize and enhance the occurrence reporting process and
the use of such data throughout the DOE community. Members of
the SIG exchange tools and information that can help solve common
problems in areas such as lessons learned; system problems; root
cause analysis; categorization of occurrences; specific DOE
Orders, including DOE Order 5000.3B, Occurrence Reporting and
Processing of Operations Information; and creating occurrence
reports.
At TRADE, members received an update of task team activities
and discussed plans for the upcoming year. One activity, the OR
SIG Resource Guide published by the group, provides a listing of
OR SIG members and areas of expertise, and resources available to
improve the occurrence reporting process. Currently, the OR SIG
is developing the first in a series of "how-to" OR SIG guidance
documents, which present good practices in cost effective
implementation of DOE Order 5000.3B.
The next OR SIG meeting is scheduled for April 21-22, 1994,
in St. Louis, MO, immediately following the 1994 ORPS Users
Workshop. For more information on the OR SIG, contact Leesa
Arowood, TRADE OR SIG Coordinator (ORAU) at (615) 576-0595 or
Eugenia Boyle, DOE Advisor to OR SIG (EH-63) at (301) 903-3393.
Performance Indicator SIG
The Performance Indicator SIG (PI SIG) holds its initial
meeting at TRADE. The SIG established a steering committee and
agreed upon group charters. A panel of five DOE and contractor
personnel described the application of PIs to their
organizations. For more information about the PI SIG, contact
Stan Love (SNL) at (505) 844-4810/
AD HOC Meeting
Members of the DOE packaging and transportation safety
(PATS) community met to discuss PATS issues and challenges facing
the Department. Ms. Lucia Dykes, Training Specialist, MMES/Oak
Ridge National Laboratory, gave an overview of the Department of
Transportation (DOT) training issues. A panel of representatives
from LLNL, WSRC, EG&G Idaho, Inc., and Allied Signal shared
experiences and lessons learned in implementing DOT training
requirements. Ted Needels, Packaging and Transportation Safety
Program Manager, Office of Safety and Quality Assurance, EH-332,
provided attendees with an overview and status of the following
list of key topics.
o Occurrence Reporting and Processing System (ORPS)
Quarterly Reports
o Glossary of Packaging and Transportation Terms
o Issuance of Onsite Packaging and Transportation Safety
Guidance
o DOE Order 5480.3, Safety Requirements for the Packaging
and Transportation of Hazardous Materials, Hazardous
Substances, and Hazardous Wastes
o The Safety Guide for the Preparation, Review, and Issue
of DOE Alternatives
o Packaging Design Guide
o DOE Order 5480.3V Motor Carrier Safety
o Decontamination and Decommissioning
This PATS working group was sponsored by Mike Wangler,
Director of the Transportation and Packaging Safety Division, EH-
322. For more PATS program information and future working group
meetings, contact Ted Needels (EH-332) at (301)903-4684.
The 1994 TRADE Conference will be held from October 31-
November 2, 1994 in Dallas, Texas. Call Denise Hawkins (ORISE)
at (615)576-2207 for more information.
Readership Survey
In the Fall issue of The Safety Connection, readers were
asked to complete a survey about the publication. Forty-seven
survey forms were received.
Results from the readership revealed that the majority of
respondents agreed that the articles are interesting (73
percent), easy to read (83 percent), and provide relevant, useful
safety-related information (73 percent). Seventy percent of the
respondents also agreed that they get information in The Safety
Connection that they do not get elsewhere, and 64 percent agreed
that the information is current.
About half of the respondents (53 percent) disagreed with
the statement that the articles are too long. Forty-three
percent thought issues should not exceed 24 pages, 23 percent
preferred 12 pages, and 40 percent had no opinion on length.
Also, of the 27 respondents who wrote comments or suggestions, 6
of these indicated that the publication is too long.
The survey showed that the most valuable topics in The
Safety Connection are training opportunities (68 percent of
respondents); future workshops schedule (66 percent); specific
safety topics (64 percent); and Orders, regulations, and guidance
(55 percent). Topics preferred by respondents include hazardous
materials safety (57 percent), electrical safety (47 percent),
fire protection (45 percent), and construction safety and safety
in research (40 percent each).
Nearly two-thirds of the respondents (64 percent) were DOE
contractor employees and half (53 percent) were S&H professionals
or S&H supervisors or managers. About a forth (26 percent) were
DOE employees.
In addition to publication length, the open-ended, positive
suggestions and comments addressed several other broad
categories: 12 on content, 3 on format, 3 on timeliness, and 5
on the overall publication. The survey comments will be used to
make The Safety Connection even more useful to all DOE and
contractor employees
DOE Office Continues to Protect Contractor Whistleblowers
The Office of Contractor Employee Protection (FM-70, previously
OC-1) continues to protect whistleblowers-contractor and
subcontractor employees who report perceived problems or hazards
at DOE facilities. FM-70 implements 10 CFR 708, which became
effective on April 2, 1992. Since the DOE reorganization, the
Office now operates under the Office of the Associate Deputy
Secretary for Field Management (FM-70).
Sandra Schneider, Director of the Office of Contractor
Employee Protection, reports that their mission remains the same-
to investigate allegations of reprisal that contractor and
subcontractor employees claim resulted after they voiced their
concerns. Ms. Schneider adds that the Office has received more
than 50 complaints and conducted more than 20 investigations
since it began operation. For more information on the Office of
Contractor Employee Protection, call Sandra Schneider at
(202)586-8289.
FIELD ACTIVITIES
Overall Process Developed For Y-12 OSHA Activities
The Y-12 Plant's aggressive approach, initiated in late 1989, to
incorporate various program components of a successful health and
safety program. These components include strong management
commitment, employee involvement and empowerment, worksite
evaluation and analysis, training, recordkeeping, data tracking
and trending systems, and a graded approach to abatement
utilizing a risk ranking system. This firmly-established process
has created a new safety culture created by Y-12's workers
management, and health and safety professionals.
Both management's employee's continuing commitment to safety
was exemplified during the May 12, 1993, Safety Day when senior
DOE and MMES management and labor union representatives vowed
commitment to achieving Star status, the highest performance
level awarded by OSHA's VPP, at the Y-12 Plant. Other related
activities include the unions' involvement in benchmarking
activities, training instruction, worksite assessments,
committees, program sponsorship, and decision making processes.
Management emphasize the importance of involving every employee
in the health and safety processes, affording sufficient time and
resources for employees to do so.
A major asset to the OSHA efforts is the established
cultural acceptance to the implementation of OSH requirements
throughout the plant. The extensive educational training
provided to Y-12 employees has established and maintained a
comfortable understanding of the need for and benefits of
compliance with OSHA and other relevant standards. One does not
observe resistance to implementation of requirements as one might
expect when program objectives are first implemented. Over 1,000
employees have received detailed educational training on OSHA,
American National Standards Institute (ANSI), National Fire
Protection Association (NFPA), National Electrical Code (NEC),
and other standards, from in-house courses or recognized sources
such as the OSHA Training Institute in Chicago, IL.
Worksite inspections, evaluations, and analysis have been
performed by trained employees, safety professionals, engineering
groups, and labor representatives. Over 26,000 OSHA non-
compliance have been identified over a 4-year period. All high-
hazard findings have been abated and only 58 older medium-risk
findings remain open thanks to the aggressive approaches by
operations, maintenance, and health and safety professionals.
Only approximately 4,000 low-risk findings remain open. An
interim action process to provide for employee health and safety
is in effect for open findings.
A formalized risk ranking system is in place that is based
on the methodology found in draft DOE Order 5483.XX, Occupational
Safety and Health Program for DOE Contractor Employees. All open
OSHA findings are evaluated and assigned the appropriate Risk
Assessment Code (RAC). Maintenance resources, assigned according
to a maintenance prioritization system, perform the majority of
the abatement activities. To ensure continuity between the RAC
system and the maintenance priority system, a software interface
program was developed to automatically convert the RACs into the
appropriate maintenance priority level. This approach allows
each respective discipline to still utilize its individual
systems with the results actually being common through the use of
computerized systems.
Use of OSHA's maintenance prioritization interface and the
RAC systems results in the ability to apply a graded approach to
abatement activities and assignment of resources to the higher-
risk findings. This process improves the defense of how
resources are utilized and why particular abatement actions are
addressed.
No OSHA process would be complete without a computerized
data system. The Y-12 system was designed by the OSHA Program
Office specifically to accommodate OSHA-type issues. Maintained
in local PCs, the system was developed to be user friendly,
contain any attribute or data necessary (currently up to 50
attributes can be entered), and provide a wide range of reports,
trending information, charts, and other data. Operations or
maintenance groups can be provided with either hardcopy or
electronic data to assist them in their activities. Performance
indicator information is provided to senior management and DOE on
a routine basis.
Y-12 is proud to have its OSHA efforts evolved into an
effective, efficient process. Members of its OSHA Program have
shared its lessons learned and experiences with DOE and several
other DOE contractors. For more information on the process,
contact George Winebarger (MMES) at (615)574-0463, Brian Foster
(MMES) at (615) 576-5583, or Jerry Robertson (Y-12) at (615) 576-
0223.
Bechtel Reaches Significant Safety Milestone at Naval Petroleum
Reserve (NPR) No. 1
A western-style barbecue, complete with music and authentic food,
was held at NPR-1 on September 15, 1993, to commemorate another
major safety milestone. The celebration honored Bechtel
Petroleum Operations employees, contractor to DOE at the Elk
Hills field, for achieving two million hours without a lost-time
injury.
It took Bechtel's 750 employees 489 days to achieve this
milestone. The company had previously completed 1.5 million
hours and 1 year without a lost-time injury in May 1993, and
employees pledged their continued support to reach and exceed the
2-million-hour goal. Fewer than 2 percent of petroleum-related
companies nationwide ever reach the 2-million-hour level over the
entire life of the company.
Elk Hills is leading the way in implementing Bechtel's
corporate-wide "Zero Accident Tolerance" philosophy and achieving
safety excellence at NPR-1. The safety culture at NPR-1 has
grown dramatically over the past year. It is "proof-positive"
that when Bechtel, DOE, and Chevron USA people all work together
to achieve a common goal, the synergy is unequaled in improving
NPR-1 operations.
The luncheon offered an opportunity to reflect on this
notable achievement and reaffirm NPR's commitment to safety
excellence. Officials from DOE, Chevron, co-owner of NPR, and
Bechtel Petroleum, Chemical and Industrial Company participated
in this event. Speakers included Dan Hogan; Jim Brady, Chevron
USA, Walk Dunbar, government member of the Elk Hills operating
committee; Jim Watson, Vice President and General Manager of
Bechtel Petroleum Operations, Inc; and Mark Hawley, Safety and
Health Manager of Bechtel Petroleum Operations, Inc. Guest
speakers included Jay Belote, President of Bechtel Petroleum,
Chemical and Industrial Company; Elmer Remkes, President, Bechtel
Petroleum Operations, Inc; Wayne Rice, Vice President and Manager
of Safety Services for Bechtel corporation; and Kevin Berg,
Western Regional Safety Manager for Bechtel Corporation.
This significant accomplishment in the area of safety and
health is another example of the strong continuous improvement
effort underway at Elk Hills. To put the 2-million-hour
accomplishment in perspective, Dan Hogan drew on the Biblical
patriarch Methuselah. If Methuselah had begun work at the age of
8 and continued to work without a lost-time accident until he
died at the age of 969 years, he would have equaled this
accomplishment.
Benefits associated with the reduced number of injuries over
the past year include employees returning home safely to their
families, higher morale, a sense of accomplishment, dramatic
reduction in workers' compensation costs, and reduced indirect
costs. For additional information, contact Mike Ruiz, DOE Safety
Manager (NPR-1), at (805) 763-6063.
UPDATES
Hoisting & Rigging Simulator
A crane simulator used during the October 1993 Advanced
Crane and Rigging courses at the Hanford Environmental Health
Foundation is being evaluated by EH-30 staff for possible future
use at DOE sites. The crane simulator, developed by Digitran
Simulation Systems, Logan, UT, would enhance operator training
and qualification programs by allowing crane operators to
practice with many different cranes in different situations
without posing a risk to personnel or equipment.
Crane safety is a key element of crane operator training
programs. A crane simulator would allow operators to initiate
and learn from an "accident," then reset the computer and proceed
with the simulator. The simulator includes a sound system that
pipes in the sounds of working crane and a hydraullically-
controlled platform to give the operator a realistic sensation of
crane movements. The simulator contains computer programs that
simulate various cranes, including a truck-mounted lattice boom
crane, a maritime crane, and a tower crane.
A recommendation on possible future use of the crane
simulator will be made after EH-30 staff and DOE contractors
evaluate the simulator's performance at Hanford. For more
information, contact Ed Patigalia (EH-313) at (301) 903-3972.
OSH RESOURCES
BOOK REVIEW
Safety and Environmental Training: Using Compliance to Improve Your
Company by Dawn A. Baldwin is described by Michael Cherniak as a "must
read for ES&H managers and instructors" (Book Review, Professional Safety,
June 1993, p. 61). The 256-page manual collects cases and examples of
training programs that have been effective in improving safety and
approaches that have helped solved common ES&H training problems. Topics
of interest to the safety professional include hazard communication,
protective equipment, and lockout/tagout. One chapter maps methods for
meeting the Enviornmental Protection Agency and OSHA requirements with the
same training. Safety and Environmental Training was published by Van
Nostrand Reinhold and may also be ordered from the American Society of
Safety Engineers, 1800 E. Oakton St., Des Plaines, IL, 60018-2187 (members
$45.00; nonmembers $50.00).
VPP
EH staff are reviewing the final draft of the DOE-VPP program
documents. Once approved, the documents will be forwarded to the
Secretary's office for approval and subsequently reproduced for
distribution.
The program documents are divided into the following three
parts.
Part I: Program Elements describes the requirements of the
DOE-VPP program.
Part II: Procedures Manual describes the application
process and the responsibilities of the Operations Offices,
Program Offices, and Area Offices.
Part III: Application Guidelines outlines the criteria for
completing a DOE-VPP application.
Pending approval of program documents, prospective DOE-VPP
applicants may use the Application Guidelines to prepare their
applications. After the documents are approved, the field will
be notified that applications can now be accepted. Applications
are limited in size to one 3-inch binder, and should describe the
OSH management systems implemented by the contractor. Several
contractors developed applications, including REECo, five
Westinghouse-operated facilities, Y-12 Plant, Kaiser Engineering
Foundation, and Mason & Hanger.
Final program documents are expected to be approved and
distributed by the end of calendar year 1993. For more
information on DOE-VPP or to order a copy of the program
documents, contact Sanjeeva Kanth (EH-312) at (301) 903-4516.
800 Interps Line Provides Interpretation of Lockout/Tagout Regulation
DOE's Interpretations Response Line provides interpretations on
DOE-prescribed OSH standards and Orders, and is available to DOE
and contractor employees. The toll-free line is staffed by
experienced personnel who answer most requests in a single call.
Many calls have resulted in the development of new DOE
interpretations. Case in point: An interpretation letter
addresses the applicability of the lockout/tagout requirements
contained in 29 CFR 1910.333, as it pertains to requirements for
work on energized systems of equipment.
A February 24, 1993, letter from a DOE Operations Office
requested clarification of the applicability of OSHA lockout and
tagout requirements to work on energized electrical systems or
equipment. More specifically, the author wanted to know: "For
hot work (electrical energized work), what are the lockout/tagout
requirements?"
In the selection and use of [electrical] work practices, the
preamble of 29 CFR 1910.333 states that "deenergizing equipment
is the primary method of protecting employees. Under certain
conditions, employees may be allowed to work on or near exposed
energized parts, if the employer can demonstrate that
deenergizing (1) would be feasible or (2) would introduce
additional or increase hazards, e.g., an interruption of life-
support equipment." In addition, OSHA has not accepted the
position that a qualified employee can work on energized circuits
as safely as he or she can work on deenergized circuits.
Therefore, OSHA will not leave to the employer's discretion
whether or not to deenergize electrical circuits on the basis of
convenience, custom, or expediency.
The requirements contained in 29 CFR 1910.333(a)(2) which
address energized parts read: "If exposed live parts are not
deenergized ... other safety-related work practices shall be used
to protect employees." Also contained in 1910.333(a)(2) are the
minimal requirements to guide employees working on energized
equipment. "Only qualified persons may work on electric circuit
parts or equipment that has not been deenergized ... [they] shall
be capable of working safely on energized circuits and shall be
familiar with precautionary techniques, personal protective
equipment (PPE), insulating and shielding materials, and tools."
In addition, 29 CFR 1910.335(a)(1)(i) states that "employees
working in areas where there are potential electrical hazards
shall be provided with, and shall use, electrical protective
equipment that is appropriate for the specific parts of the body
to be protected and for the work to be performed."
Thus, when employees are potentially exposed to circuits
energized at 50 volts or greater, the primary method of
protection shall be to deenergize and lockout/tagout the circuit.
If deenergization is not feasible or if deenergization creates an
increased hazard, employees must be trained, qualified, and
provided the appropriate PPE. Suitable work practices for the
conditions under which the work is to be performed, including the
appropriate level of supervision, must be incorporated into
written and approved procedures that are strictly enforced by the
employer.
The DOE Standards Interpretations Response Line is available
to all DOE and contractor employees Monday through Friday from
8:00 A.M. until 4:00 P.M. EST. For more information on 1-800-
292-8061, contact Raymond Rogers (EH-312) at (301) 903-7331.
Hot Cell Vision Panel Fire Tests
Preliminary results have been obtained from a test program
sponsored by EH-30 which investigated the integrity of
representative hot cell vision panels. Testing was performed at
Factory Mutual Research Corporation (FMRC), an internationally-
recognized fire-testing authority. Surplus windows were made
available for the tests through cooperation between EH and the
Office of Nuclear energy (NE).
The test program attempted to determine three product
properties: whether a window would pass a 3-hour fire exposure
under the method stipulated in ASTM Standard E-119 (including the
hose stream test), whether panels could withstand a "typical"
fire exposure representing materials that would be found in DOE
hot cells, and whether a window could withstand a flammable
liquid fire as represented by the Underwriter's Laboratories Fire
Test Method 1709.
At the end of the ASTM E-119 Test, the integrity of the
vision panel was maintained, with temperatures on the cold side
well within acceptable limits. This panel also passed the
subsequent hose stream portion of the test. The DOE "typical"
fire exposure consisted of the E-109 test method through 25
minutes on the time temperature curve. At the end of that time,
the only damage sustained by the panel was a fractured Alpha
shield.
After the second window passed the UL 1709 test method, the
duration of the test was extended to obtain additional data.
After 3 1/2 hours, the window was sufficiently intact to prevent
the passage of smoke and hot gases. Temperatures on the cold
side were also within the limits for acceptance imposed by the
test method. Copies of the FMRC report are available from Dennis
Kubicki (EH-313) at (301) 903-4794 or Jim Bisker (EH-313) at
(301) 903-6542.
TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES
Pacific Northwest Laboratory (PNL) Courses
A DOE occupational safety and health (OSH) training resource was
established at Pacific Northwest Laboratory to provide high
quality OSH training that meets all applicable requirements. PNL
presents occupational safety training courses to the DOE and
contractor community. These courses integrate the latest DOE
requirements and guidance; meet required training standards; and
assist program officials, Operations Offices, and contractors
with implementation of occupational safety programs.
To addend scheduled sessions, please call the site contact.
To make arrangements to schedule a course for your site, contact
Sue Vickerman, Safety and Health Training, Pacific Northwest
Laboratory, P.O. Box 999, K5-24, Richland, WA 99352, at (509)
372-4180. PNL prefers that you have at least 30 attendees for a
requested course.
Course When Where Contact
Managing Occupational February 8 & 9, Las Vegas, Ellen Jacobsen
Safety in DOE 1994 NV (702)794-1468
March 22, 1994 Stanford, CA Ruth McDunn
(415)926-3054
March 23, 1994 Livermore, Jerry Shurts
CA (510)423-7857
May 17-18, 1994 Idaho Falls, John Curtis
ID (208)526-2452
Construction Safety January 10-14, Las Vegas, Jon Couture
in DOE 1994 NV (702)295-0309
May 9-13, 1994 Chicago, IL Larry Thompson
(708)340-8806
Supervisors' January 11-14, Richland, WA Sue Vickerman
Orientation to 1994 (509)372-4180
Occupational Safety January 25-28, Albuquerque, Phil Monette
in DOE 1994 NM (505)845-4244
May 3-6, 1994 Idaho Falls, John Curtis
ID (208)526-2452
One Day Construction
o Fall Protection & January 19-21, Richland, WA Deana Colley
Arrest Systems 1994 (509)372-4195
March 11, 1994 Denver, CO Joe Angyus
(509)372-4197
April 5, 1994 Denver, CO Joe Angyus
(509)372-4197
o Scaffolding Safety March 10, 1994 Argonne, IL Joe Angyus
on Construction (509)372-4197
Sites April 6, 1994 Denver, CO Joe Angyus
(509)372-4197
o Electrical Safety March 9, 1994 Argonne, IL Joe Angyus
on Construction (509)372-4197
Sites April 7, 1994 Denver, CO Joe Angyus
(509)372-4197
Orientation to February 8-18, Richland, WA Sue Vickerman
Occupational Safety 1994 (509)372-4180
and Health Compliance March 8-18, 1994 Oak Ridge, TN Beverly Kraska
in DOE (214)708-5103
Machine Guarding February 15-17, TBA Beverly Kraska
1994 (214)708-5103
Process Safety February 22-24, Albuquerque, Joe Angyus
Management & Process 1994 NM (509)372-4197
Hazard Analysis April 19-21, Washington, Joe Angyus
1994 D.C. (509)372-4197
Injury & Illness April 6, 1994 Livermore, CA Jerry Shurts
Recordkeeping (PNL) (510)423-7857
April 8, 1994 Aiken, SC Tim Merriweather
(803)644-5896
April 12, 1994 Batavia, IL Larry Thompson
(708) 840-8806
Transportation Training Program
DOE's Transportation Management Division (EM-561) sponsors
initial and recurrent training to ensure uniform understanding
and application of Federal regulations governing packaging and
transportation safety. All of this training incorporates the
Department of Transportation's (DOT) HM-181 requirements. The
primary target audience for the training program is DOE staff and
their contractors. Workshops are open to other students on a
space-available basis only. Participation in some courses
requires completion of prerequisites; please check with the
training registrar (301) 907-8200 before enrolling. For a course
list, contact Training Registration at (301) 907-8200 or (301)
903-8102, or Ella McNeil at (301) 903-7284.
Course When Where
Advanced Radioactive January 10-14, 1994 Amarillo, TX
Materials and February 7-11, 1994 Livermore, CA
Hazardous Materials April 18-22, 1994 Aiken, SC
May 23-27, 1994 Cincinnati, OH
IATA/ICAO Hazardous January 11-14, 1994 Oak Ridge, TN
Materials Workshop January 25-27, 1994 Oak Ridge, TN
Basic Hazardous Materials January 31-February 2, Las Vegas, NV
Workshop/Basic Hazardous February 28-March 2, Aiken, SC
Waste Module 1994
May 2-4, 1994 Cincinnati, OH
Basic Radioactive Materials February 3-4, 1994 Las Vegas, NV
Moduel March 3-4, 1994 Aiken SC
May 5-6, 1994 Cincinnati, OH
Advanced Hazardous Waste February 28-March 4, Richland, WA
Transportation and 1994
and Packaging Workshop April 25-29, 1994 Kansas City, MO
Vehicle Inspection for January 19, 1994 Amarillo, TX
Maintenance Personnel January 20, 1994 Amarillo, TX
Workshop
DOT/OSHA/EPA Workshop January 25-27, 1994 Livermore, CA
February 9-11, 1994 Las Vegas, NV
March 8-10, 1994 Aiken, SC
April 5-7, 1994 Oak Ridge, TN
May 17-19, 1994 Chicago, IL
Transportation Management April 19, 1994 Richland, WA
for Procurement/Contracts
Personnel Workshop
Training In Process Safety Management
DOE's Office of Safety and Quality Assurance (EH-30) is planning
a series of workshops on OSHA's Process Safety Management
requirements and hazard analysis techniques. These courses are
free of charge. For more information, contact Sanjeeva Kanth
(EH-312) at (301) 903-4516.
Course When Where
Process Safety Management February 15-17, 1994 Albuquerque, NM
and Process Hazard Analysis
April 26-28, 1994 Washington, D.C.
The following schedule provides additional training outside
of DOE offered by the Process Safety Institute. For registration
information, contact Karen Evans, Course Administrator, Process
Safety Institute, 10301 Technology Drive, Knoxville, TN 37932-
3369, at (615) 675-2580.
Course When
Process Safety Management: Complying with February 28-March 1, 1994
OSHA's 29 CFR 1910.119
Compliance Auditing for OSHA's 29 CFR 1910. February 14-15, 1994
119
Hazard Evaluation: Qualitative Methods January 10-14, 1994
February 29-March 4, 1994
Process Hazard Analysis Leader Training Using January 19-21, 1994
the Failure Modes and Effects Analysis and
What-If/Checklist Techniques
Process Hazard Analysis Leader Training Using January 24-28, 1994
HAZOP and What-If/Checklist Techniques
Hazard Evaluation: Quantitative Frequency January 31-February 4, 1994
Analysis Methods
Management of Change and Pre-Startup Safety February 22-23, 1994
Review Programs
Incident Investigation programs and February 24-25, 1994
Techniques
Orders, Regulations, and Guidance
DOE Order No. Subject Contact Status
5480.1B ES&H Program Darrell Huff Order remains in effect.
for Department (301)903-2136
of Energy
Operations
5480.3 Safety Require- Mike Wangler Order is being subdivided
ments for the (301)903-5078 into four smaller,
Packaging and separate Orders. In
Transportation process of coordination/
of Hazardous comment resolution.
Materials,
Hazardous
Substances, &
Hazardous Wastes
5480.4 Environmental Rama Sastry Standards are being
Protection, (301)903-4664 incorporated into other
Safety, and Health safety Orders.
Protection Standards
5480.9 Construction Pat Finn In process of formal
Project Safety (301)903-9876 coordination/comment
and Health resolution.
Management
5480.16 Firearms Safety Ed Patigalia Comments have been
(301)903-3972 resolved; awaiting
publication.
5480.17 Site Safety Mike Hillman On hold.
Representatives (301)903-5637
5480.28 Natural Phenomena Jim Hill Under development in
Hazards Mitigation (301)903-4508 conjunction with EH-60.
V. Gopinath
(301)903-4849
5480.XX Onsite Transporta- Mike Wangler New Order. In process of
tion of Hazardous (301)903-5078 coordination/comment
Materials resolution.
5481.1B Safety Analysis Darrell Huff A new Order is being
and Review System (301)903-2136 drafted for replacement.
5482.1B ES&H Appraisal Billy Lee On hold.
Program (301)903-4884
5483.XX Occupational Saf- Terry Krietz In internal EH Review;
ety & Health Pro- (301)903-6456 comments incorporated.
gram for DOE
Contractor
Employees
5483.1A OSH Program for Terry Krietz Revising to reflect
DOE Contractor (301)903-6456 omissions from DOE
Employees at 5480.29.
GOCO Facilities
5484.1 Environmental John Teske OSH reporting and
Protection, (301)903-5607 recording requirements
Safety, and are being incorporated
Health Protection into DOE 5483.XX. Will
Information Re- only include accident
porting Requirements. investigation
requirements.
5700.6C Quality Assurance Jacques Read Undergoing implementation
(301)903-2535 by DOE field elements.
Implementation Guides are
being circulated for
comment. Joint with EH-
60.
6430.1A General Design Darrell Huff Formal comments are being
Criteria (301)903-2136 resolved.
TRAINING
Fire Safety Training
During FY 1994, EH-30 will continue its program of fire safety
training opportunities. A series of Life Safety Code Courses are
planned at select DOE sites. Sites selected as of October 1993
are LANL and Savannah River.
A fire alarm and signalling system course has been developed
by EH-30 for field presentation. The course will focus on
systems typical of DOE and will address code conformance issues
and new technological developments. Sites selected include
Pantex, Hanford, and Savannah River.
Continuing a long tradition, a 2-week Basic Fire Protection
Engineering Course is also anticipated. The course is intended
for safety managers and specialists, as well as fire department
officers who do not have an educational foundation in fire
protection engineering.
Dates and specific locations for these courses can be
obtained by contacting Dennis Kubicki (EH-313) at (301) 903-4794
or Jim Bisker (EH-313) at (301) 903-6542.
Southeastern Safety and Health Conference and Exhibition
The Southeastern Safety and Health Conference is scheduled for
March 28-30, 1994, in Atlanta, GA. The conference covers safety
and health issues, environmental issues, workplace hazards, and
regulations. Speakers from private industry, government
agencies, law firms, insurance companies, and universities will
address specific problems and issues relevant to safety and
health professionals, engineers, production and maintenance
supervisors, and others involved in industry, government,
research, and teaching. Concurrent with the conference will be a
2-day product and service exhibition.
The conference sessions and workshops are conducted on a
level that informs and updates safety and health professionals
concerning state-of-the-art developments in their own and related
fields, while providing useful information for non-safety and
health professionals as well. Topics for proposed papers were
accepted for presentation in thee areas of safety,
health/industrial hygiene, environmental, and risk
management/legal issues.
The conference is sponsored by the Environmental Science and
Technology Laboratory at Georgia Tech Research Institute in
conjunction with the National Safety Council, the Risk Management
Division of the City of Atlanta, the American Society of Safety
engineers, and the American Industrial Hygiene Association. For
more information or for a copy of the conference brochure,
contact the Training Programs Office of Georgia Tech Research
Institute at (404) 891-7130.
REGISTER NOW FOR WM'94
WM'94, the 20th annual nuclear waste symposium cosponsored by the
Department of Energy (DOE), will be held in Tucson, AZ, from
February 27 through March 3, 1994. The symposium will include a
technical paper session on worker health and safety issues, which
will be followed by a panel discussion. The session is
tentatively scheduled for the afternoon of Wednesday, March 2,
1994. A registration package was mailed in mid-November to
individuals on the WM'94 mailing list. For registration
information, write to the following address.
Waste Management Symposia
245 S. Plumer, Suite 19, Tucson, AZ 85719
or call (602) 624-8573, FAX (602) 792-3993.
FUTURE WORKSHOPS
Workshop Where When Contact
Waste Management Tucson, AZ February 27-March 3, Waste Management
Symposium (WM'94) 1994 Symposia
(602)624-8573
Occupational Alexandria, March 15-17, 1994 Avagene Moore
Safety SIG VA (615)762-4768
Spring Workshop
211th National Seattle, WA March 24-29, 1994 American Chemical
Meeting of the Society
American Chemical (202)862-4401
Society
Southeastern Atlanta, GA March 28-30, 1994 Georgia Tech
Safety and Health Research Institute
Conference Training Programs
Office
(404)891-7130
1994 Annual DOE/ Albuquerque, April 11-15, 1994 Dennis Kubicki
Contractor Fire NM (301)903-4794
Safety Conference
1994 ORPS St. Louis, April 17-20, 1994 Sharlene Williams
Users' Workshop MO (208)526-9655
International Knoxville, April 27-29, 1994 D. B. Gunter
Symposium on D&D TN (615)576-6281
TIS Workshop San Diego, October 24-25, 1994 Carla Cavaiani
CA (800) 473-4375
3rd Annual DOE San Diego, October 26-28, 1994 Charlie Parker
Occupational CA (509)372-4174
Safety Conference
1994 Fire Safety Conference
The 1994 Annual DOE/Contractor Fire Safety Conference has been
scheduled for the week of April 11-15, 1994, in Albuquerque, New
Mexico. The conference will focus on fire safety program
management issues, emergency response considerations, and fire
protection engineering developments. The meeting is open to all
interested individuals. The 1993 conference at Savannah River
was attended by 235 fire safety professionals from across the
country.
Topics that will be discussed in the 1994 meeting include
recent fire research performed for EH, emergency response in
underground facilities, development of halon substitutes, recent
fire incidents within DOE, fire protection for facilities
undergoing decontamination and decommissioning, fire safety
initiatives within individual program offices, acceptance testing
of fire protection systems, fire department master planning, and
the status of pending fire safety criteria, among others.
An information package that includes a final agenda and
logistics information will be distributed throughout DOE in
January 1994. For additional details, contact Dennis Kubicki
(EH-313) at (301) 903-4794 or Dennis Kirson at (505) 845-4879.