Environmental  Management

Worker Protection Program

Charles O'Dell

USDOE Office of Environmental Health

September 10, 1997

Introduction

• Current DOE Orders/rules as implemented, focus on continuous operating facilities.
• EM, with minor exceptions (i.e., vitrification facilities), has one time and discontinuous activities in the areas of deactivation, materials stabilization, waste management, decontamination, and decommissioning.
• EM operations represent a more flexible philosophy of doing business and deliberate approach to doing work.
• Integrating contractors with performance incentives utilize different tiers of subcontractors.
• Workforce capability needs to be aligned with a changing mission.
• Use of the Integrated Safety Management System (ISMS) principles is the answer to these challenges.

Box 1: Define Scope of Work

• Management-level worker principles and union stewardship
• Communications
• Management expectations
• Translation of directives
• Emphasis on work
• Performance-based incentives/penalties
• Sitewide ISMS implementation plan

Box 2: Analyze Hazards

• Safety documentation
• Multi-disciplined approach to hazard analysis (nuclear, occupational, and chemical) with worker involvement
• Intrinsic safety practices in lifecycle management (e.g., avoidance/substitution of toxic/ hazardous principles)
• Hazard prioritization

Box 3: Identify and Implement Controls

• Impacts of controls on other hazards (e.g., radiation protection fire safety)
• Use of mock-ups to test controls with worker involvement
• Do not place workers in hazards way
• Controls for in-facility work and for co-located workers (e.g., radiological, chemical thresholds/requirements)
• Learn from one-time experiences

Box 4: Perform Work

• Conduct operational readiness
• Ensure Job Safety Analysis is done
• Ensure Personnel Protection and Equipment is used
• Ensure training/workshops are available, where necessary
• Do work safely or don't do it

Box 5: Feedback and Improvement

• Training makes perfect
• Learning to improve continuously
• Workers need to understand that continuous improvement is based on their experiences
• Ability to influence how work is done next time
• Revise procedures/processes
• Revise performance expectations
• Revise criteria

Summary

1. Establish clear management expectations and a safe work environment.
   
2. Do work safely or don't do it. Workers are made accountable for their work performance.
   
3. Focus on 2006: We need to do more with less resources, generate efficiencies and safety through enhancements and worker planning improvements (e.g., Job Safety Analysis, Work Smart Standards, Enhanced Work Planning).