Reporting to the division director, each department head has leadership responsibility for a major functional unit, usually including two or more subordinate group leaders, plus professionals and technical staff, varying in number from 30 to 50 individuals. Each department head is responsible for management of the department, including planning, staffing, and budgeting, and for the development and implementation of Laboratory policies and procedures in their functional area. Each department head represents the department in contacts with internal and external organizations and individuals on matters of major significance to the success of Laboratory programs and activities. The department head directs the work of subordinate managers in the groups within the department.
Reporting to the division director or a department head, each group leader has supervisory responsibility for an EH&S technical or professional section, project, or function. An EH&S group comprises several professionals and/or technical experts (typically 10 to 25 people), organized to achieve goals in a specific, focused EH&S specialty area.
The LBNL Environment, Health and Safety Division's primary mission is to provide professional and technical expertise to support and enhance the Laboratory's research and development program.
David Mc Graw is the LBNL EH&S division director. He is responsible for the day to day operations that articulate Lab policies on protection of the public, and the environment, and eliminate potential compliance exposures to the lab. The EH&S divisional Charter provides a roadmap for the rest of the division and is found in the Division Function Notebook.
The two departments are the Field Support Department and the Services Department. The Services Department manages the Environmental Protection Group, the Hazardous Waste Management Group, Medical Facility and the Radiation Analytical Measurements Laboratory; Jack Bartley is the manager of the Services Department.
Kathi Dinnel manages the Radiation Analytical Measurements Laboratory
At the Berkeley Laboratory the following documents establish the policy and provide the implementation guidance that makes line management is effectively accountable for protection of workers, the public and the environment:
Operations Assurance Plan (OAP) - 1996
Self Assessment Manual - 1992
Supplement - 1996
Publication 3000 - Environment Health and Safety Manual - 1995
Chemical Hygiene and Safety Plan - 1992
Waste Generator Guidelines - 1996
Employee Performance/Progress Review (Section III) - 1996
2) Clear Roles and Responsibilities.
Each Division making up the Berkeley Laboratory has clearly defined lines of responsibility down to the working level. Each division designates a research investigator to represent its views and concerns on the Laboratory Safety Review Committee and a full time employee to act as the ES & H Coordinator. This Coordinator acts as the interface between ES & H concerns and compliance in the workplace and the EH & S technical professionals. The organizational information is updated every 60 days and is retained in the Functional/Facility Notebooks as appropriate (see OAP).
3) Competence Commensurate with Responsibilities.
Job assignments, including hires, are reviewed by line management and by the compensation group within Human Resources to ensure that the requirements and responsibilities of a job are matched by the experience, knowledge and skills of individuals selected for assignment. A performance expectation for managers and supervisors in the Division of Environment, Health and Safety is how well the talents, knowledge and skills of staff are matched to work assignments and responsibilities
The Laboratory's training program ensures that each staff member, including participating guests, is adequately trained to do participate safely in Laboratory activities. Staff, with supervisor participation, fill out the Jobs Hazards Questionnaire (JHQ) describing the hazards associated with their job assignment and work area. Evaluation of the responses by the Training Coordinator and the cognizant supervisor determines the training regimen needed to carry out work in a manner that protects the employee, co-workers, the public and the environment.
4) Balanced Priorities.
All environment, safety and health activities in the Laboratory are described in technical terms with budgetary information included. Each year this information is updated, reviewed and prioritized on the basis of risk to workers, public, and the environment by a Laboratory wide committee selected to represent programmatic line management and ES & H professionals. This document is utilized by Laboratory Senior Management in strategically planning the immediate focus and long term goals of the environment, safety and health program at the Laboratory.
5) Hazard Controls Tailored to Work Being Performed.
Chapter 6 of the Environment, Health and Safety Manual clearly defines the steps for each line manager to develop the appropriate engineering and administrative controls to mitigate hazards in the workplace. The Laboratory's Self Assessment Program, including Functional Appraisals by ES & H professionals, and the UC/DOE Contract 98 Performance Measures provide assurance that implementation of hazards control is adequate to protection the worker, the public and the environment.
6) Identification of Safety Standards and Requirements.
The Laboratory is dedicated to following the Necessary and Sufficient Closure Process (DOE 450.3) on an iterative basis at all levels of activities in the Laboratory to ensure the Safety Standards are adequate to provide protection to workers, the public and the environment. This process is completed by to commencement of work in those situations where current work is significantly modified, new work is proposed or substantial facility modifications are being made (Chapter 6, Environment Health and Safety Manual).
7) Operations Authorization.
Conditions and requirements for facilities determined to be of higher risk based on the Preliminary Hazards Analysis are contained in a Safety Analysis Document. Activity Hazard Documents are the basis for meeting this requirement for specific operations and activities falling into the higher risk category at the Berkeley Laboratory. Internal Agreements describing the performance expectations by each party are used for operations between two functional areas where the quality of performance might adversely impact the Laboratory's ability to meet its responsibility to protect workers, the public and the environment.
Calibration Facility B75C: This is a small trailer located adjacent to B75B, dedicated solely to calibration of stationary and moveable radiation monitors. There are moveable heaters used to maintain a constant temperature and there is a remote mechanical operator to raise and lower the source. Building 75B located within 50 feet is protected by a concrete shielding wall. This facility is similar to a dry electronics lab with computers and electrical measurement equipment present.
Dosimetry Office, B90-0026: This is an office area with personal TLD annealing ovens and a small film development area. There is a small amount of potassium Hydroxide and other film development chemicals in the film development lab. Access to the lab is via a rotating dark room door. There is a regular secondary access/egress door to the film development area. The TLD annealing oven is totally automatic in its operation and is equipped with interlocks to prevent access to hot exposed areas. Normal use of these ovens is conducted in normal work hours when the area is attended. This does not constitute an "unattended operation".
Building 71 Cave L and M, Electrical Engineering workshop B71-129: The caves are heavilly shielded areas used for storage of high and lowlevel sources and other miscelaneous equipment. As the Radiation Assessment Cs-137 Calibration Facility, it serves LBNL as one of the calibration facilities where ionizing radiation detection instrumentation and personnel dosimeters ae irradiated and calibrated. The gamma ray sources are contained in either a Shepard Source calibrator or shielded pigs. These areas are controlled by key access to approved personnel only (requires documented training); administrative measures such as log books and other records and mechanical means such as interlocked access and the use of a remote camera.These are not use for general access and no routine work is performed in these areas.
The electrical engineering workshop, B71-129, is an area that is shared (matrixed) with another division. This area is furnished with work tables, cabinets and other routine office and dry lab equipment.
Building 1, Donner Lab 1-106, Whole Body Counter: This is a heavily shielded area that is accessed via a hydraulic door.
From all the chemical fume hoods in these rooms there is the potential for the release of radionuclides and toxic chemicals to the environment. The release potential for radionuclides triggers periodic stack sampling to satisfy radiological NESHAPs. There is a small waste SAA in the wet lab for small quantity waste management.
In 76-129 liquid nitrogen is used to cool certain electrical components. Liquid nitrogen is manually transfered from the storage dewar to the equipment dewar.
In all office areas there are computers, used for data entry; there is the potential for ergonomic hazards and repetetive motion injury, there is a low level of concern for these issues.
Samples are transported manually from B26 to B76. This means that the main road separating the buildings has to be crossed. This can be hazardous, especially during the morning and evening commute hours.
Calibration Facility, B75C: No chemicals are used in this facility. The facility possesses a Class 3 Radiological Work Authorization. High level sources are used via a mechanical actuator. The use of high level sources is a moderate level of concern. The actuator is "timed" so that the source is automatically returned to its shielded housing to prevent over exposure to the operator. Portable heaters are used in this area to maintain the air temperature and are a low level concern.
Dosimetry Office, B90-0026: A small quantity of potassium hydroxide is used in the film development area. This is a low level of concern. The annealing oven used to develop the TLD personal dosimeters and is totally automatic. Interlocks prevent the operator comming into contact with hot surfaces. The balance of this area is office space where there is a low level hazard potential of repetive motion or ergonomic concern.
Building 71 Cave L and M: The primary hazard is the potential for external radiation exposure. All sources are encapsulated and considered "sealed sources". Almost negligable secondary hazards include potential for internal and external exposures from loose contamination and fire. Facility content material and construction almost eliminate the fire potential.
Matrixed Electrical Engineering workshop B71-129: Minor hazards exist from exposed electrical surfaces, and hot surfaces (soldering Irons). There is a very low LOC for toxic chemical exposure from fluxes and lead containing solder. Portable heaters may be used in this area and there is a low LOC for trip hazards.
Building 1, Donner Lab 1-106, Whole Body Counter: Access and egress from this area is via a hydraulically operated door. There is a small potential for personal injury from the door.
It is unknown if the outcome of the Necessary and Sufficient Process will impact the operations of the Radiation and Analytical Measurements Group.