Environment, Safety, and Health INTEGRATED HAZARD APPRAISAL of the BERKELEY LAB EARTH SCIENCES DIVISION
for Work and Hazards Identification to Define the Necessary and Sufficient Standards Set and Direct Appraisal Efforts

August 19, 1996

INTRODUCTION

This report initially identifies the work activities and hazards that are present in the E. O. Lawrence Berkeley National Lab (Berkeley Lab or LBNL) Earth Science Division (ESD) as part of the Integrated Hazard Assessment (IHA) process. Activities and hazards were identified in preparation for:

• Definition of the Necessary and Sufficient (N&S), or Work Smart, set of standards, and

• Direction of additional future Environment, Health, and Safety (EH&S) integrated functional appraisals.

In early August 1996, a multi-disciplinary team of research and EH&S representatives from Berkeley Lab and Department of Energy (DOE) Oakland Operations was identified (note team listing below). Team members and contributors met two or more times to review available work activity and hazard information, identify hazards related to activities, field-check findings, and complete identification worksheets. Identification worksheet information was then entered into the IHA information management system and reviewed for quality. Identification worksheets are enclosed and are grouped by Floors in Buildings 14, 31, 51, 70, 70A & 90. Building floor plans that show the layout of ESD operations are presented in the Attachment.

The body of this report summarizes the IHA team participants, project time-line, ESD organization and management, ES&H performance expectations and objectives, ESD actions to be performed, ESD physical conditions within which the work will be performed, ESD materials and conditions that could cause adverse consequences, uncertainties about the work, EH&S resource availability and constraints, and stakeholder concerns.

IHA TEAM

PROJECT TIMELINE

ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT

In ESD, each major program is organized as a Department or a Center with a Department/Center Head.

The Departments include:

• Energy Resource Development
• Environmental Remediation Technology
• Nuclear Waste
• Subsurface Geosciences

Each Department is staffed by researchers and support staff working on parts of either a single large, multidisciplinary project, or staff, sometimes matrixed from other departments, working on a collection of separate but scientifically related projects. The research activities, including the lab facilities under each Department have a strong customer orientation; i.e.., are closely aligned to DOE programs and Program Offices. Shifting DOE priorities and organizational changes over time may therefore lead to future changes in the ESD Departmental structure.

The Centers include:

• Center for Computational Seismology
• Center of Isotope Geochemistry
• Center for Environmental Technology
• Geoscience Measurements Center

Centers differ from Departments in that they have unique scientific focus, represent a distinct laboratory core competency, may serve more than one DOE or other federal sponsor, and include staff and projects from more than one Berkeley Lab Division, as well as one or more UC Berkeley Campus departments.

Principal investigators(PI) report directly through Department or Center Heads to the Division Director (Sally Benson) and are accountable for the scientific excellence, relevance to the DOE mission, fiscal integrity of their programs, as well as adherence to all administrative and regulatory requirements. The Division Director is ultimately responsible for meeting the requirements of applicable health, safety, and environmental regulations and policy. The Division Safety Coordinator (Norm Goldstein) is charged with oversight of all matters pertaining to environmental quality and health and safety of both employees and the public. An ES&H committee assists in this effort by encouraging a high level of EH&S awareness and evaluating ES&H compliance throughout the division. Each facility with in ESD is headed by a Facility Head who is responsible for day-to-day operations and with the general health and safety, as well as the safety training of every one working in the facility, including guests and students.

PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS AND OBJECTIVES

Research Program Management Responsibility for Safety

Line Management is responsible for the protection of the public, the workers, and the environment.

At the Berkeley Laboratory the following documents establish the policy and provide the implementation guidance that makes line management effectively accountable for protection of workers, the public and the environment:

• Operations Assurance Plan, OAP (1996)
• Self Assessment Manual (1992) and 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)

Clear Roles and Responsibilities

Clear and unambiguous lines of authority and responsibility for ensuring safety are established and maintained at all organizational levels within the Department and its contractors.

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 an 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).

Competence Commensurate with Responsibilities

Personnel possess the experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities that are necessary to discharge their 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 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.

Balanced Priorities

Resources are effectively allocated to address safety, programmatic, and operational considerations. Protecting the public, the workers, and the environment is a priority whenever activities are planned and performed.

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.

Hazard Controls Tailored to Work Being Performed

Administrative and engineering controls to prevent and mitigate hazards are tailored to the work and associated hazards 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.

Identification of Safety Standards and Requirements

Before work is performed, the associated hazards are evaluated and an agreed-upon set of safety standards and requirements are established which, if properly implemented, provide adequate assurance that the public, the workers, and the environment are protected from adverse consequences.

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).

Operations Authorization

The conditions and requirements to be satisfied for operations to be initiated and conducted are clearly established and agreed-upon.

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.

ACTIONS TO BE PERFORMED

Earth Science's mission is to perform leading multidisciplinary research on geoscience topics of national importance and engineering development of geotechnical instruments and analysis methods. Research and development activities reflect the Division's special emphasis on properties of crustal rocks and fluids, subsurface transport processes, geophysical imaging, and the dynamic behavior of fractured media. These efforts build on the Divisions foundation of broad strength in fundamental geosciences, with special capabilities to measure, model, and predict subsurface conditions and processes. Continuing excellence will be ensured by the Division's commitment to excellence, peer reviews of all divisional projects and work products, and a divisional quality assurance program.

PHYSICAL CONDITIONS WITHIN WHICH THE WORK WILL BE PERFORMED

Building 14

B14 is a single story building, occupied solely by ESD; note the attached floor plan of B14 operations. Functional space consists of: 1 chem lab, 1 soils lab, 1 dry lab, 7 office spaces, and storage areas for field work operations. The chem lab contains a ventilated enclosure for silicon molding and the soils lab has a non-ventilated glovebox, freeze dryer, and centrifuge.

Building 31

B31 is a single story building which is shared with the Facilities (gardeners and laborers). Note the attached floor plan of B31 operations The space that ESD occupies consists of a shop area, field work staging area, and an office.

Building 51 and 51B

B51 is the decommissioned Bevatron. In B51, ESD occupies 1 chem lab which has two fume hoods and a ventilated storage cabinet for waste chemicals. In the attached B51B floor plan, ESD only occupies office space in the 51N section.

Building 70

B70 is a 3 story building. ESD occupies 7 laboratory type rooms on the First Floor and 1 chemistry lab on the Second Floor. Note the attached floor plans for B70 operations. The chem labs have a total of 5 fume hoods and one non-exhausted biosafety cabinet. Analytical instrumentation includes ventilated atomic adsorption and inductively coupled plasma instruments and a gas chromatographs with flame ionization, electron capture, and mass spectroscopy detectors.

Building 70A

B70A is a 5 story building. ESD occupies 6 laboratory type rooms; 1 on the Second Floor and the remainders on the Fourth Floor which comprises the Center for Isotope Geochemistry. Note the attached floor plans for B70A operations. There are 2 fume hoods for general chemical use; 2 perchloric acid hoods with water wash-down systems connected to the acid neutralization system; 3 positively pressurized, inert, gloveboxes (exhausted); 1 exhausted biosafety cabinet; 1 gas storage cabinet; 1 clean room; and a mass spectrometer.

There are also approximately 25 office spaces occupied on Floors 2 through 4.

Building 90 and 90P

B90 is a 4 story administrative building in which ESD occupies approximately 60 offices on the First and Second Floors and several room for storage, supplies, telecommunication, and conferencing. B90P is a tone story temporary buliding with office space which ESD solely occupies.

Other Berkeley Lab Locations

ESD has shared research operations with the Accelerator and Fusion Research Department (AFRD) at the Advanced Light Source (ALS) and Life Science Division (LSD) in Building 70A on the Fourth Floor. The specific hazards are addressed in the other respective Divisions' reports.

University of California at Berkeley

Berkeley Lab employees who have affiliation with the Berkeley campus also work in Appendix J space as defined by the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Berkeley Lab and the University of California. Buildings in which work is conducted include: Hearst Mining, Evans, Davis, and McCone Halls.

Off-Site Work

ESD conducts field work throughout United States and on occasion internationally. Examples of some of the 1996 field projects include:

MATERIALS AND CONDITIONS THAT COULD CAUSE ADVERSE CONSEQUENCES

Examples (not summaries) of typical materials and conditions that could cause adverse consequences if not controlled are listed below. These examples are first listed by Necessary and Sufficient requirements identification topic areas, and then by floors with in Buildings.

Labs

Chemical Hazards:

Solid, liquid, and gaseous inert and hazardous materials are used typically in smaller quantities throughout many labs and some shops in all ESD occupied buildings. Hazardous materials include flammable gases, flammable liquids, inert cryogens, corrosives, reactive or explosives, reproductive toxins, carcinogens, toxic materials, health hazard gases, and oxidizers. Hazardous materials are commonly used inside high-integrity, closed-systems (e.g., vacuum chambers and gas systems). Hazardous materials that may become significantly airborne are typically handled inside hoods. Personal protective equipment and administrative procedures are used as needed. Given the level of controls used, the overall level of concern for acute or chronic chemical exposure at any one operation is "low." Examples of hazardous materials uses include:

• Flammable Gases:
  • A few locations use compressed flammable gases in quantities less than two large cylinders (200 CF) typically in association with analytical equipment. Level of concern is "low".
• Flammable Liquids:
  • Flammable liquids are used throughout ESD in smaller quantities and are typically organic solvents. Level of concern is "low".
• Inert Cryogens:
  • Liquid nitrogen is dispensed from large tanks outside Buildings 70 and 51 into 2 liter dewars for transfer to lab areas. Level of concern is "low".
  • Cold traps are used in analytical work, "cryofocusing" (B70-158). Level of concern is "low".
• Corrosives:
  • A wide variety of acids are used throughout various ESD labs to digest soils.
  • Large volumes i.e., liters/week of hydrofluoric and perchloric are used. The level of concern is "moderate".
• Reactives or Explosives:
  • Heated perchloric acid is used in two hoods (B70A-4419 &4429 with water wash-down systems. Level of concern is "moderate".
• Reproductive Toxins:
  • Toluene is used in small quantities as a solvent (B70-166). Level of concern is "low".
  • Lead and mercury are used as a standards in Atomic Adsorption analysis (B70-108). Level of concern is "low".
• Carcinogens:
  • Small quantities (< 10g or 10 ml) of chemicals such as chloroform, dichloromethane, benzene, are used inside hoods (B70-166). The level of concern is "low".
  • Airborne silica dust is present at the Yucca Mountain field site. Employees have been fit-tested and issued half-mask respirators with HEPA filters. The level of concern is "low".
• Toxic and Highly Toxic Materials:
  • Generally in ESD handling of these chemicals is frequent but in small quantities per use. The level of concern is "low".
  • Metals and unknown VOC's may be present at the Idaho field site. The level of concern is "moderate".
• Health Hazard Gases:
  • A small quantity cylinder of bromine pentafluoride is dispensed into vacuum system (B70A-4431). There is a written AHD for this operation. The level of concern is "low".
• Oxidizers:
  • Oxidizing acids (e.g., nitric acid) and gases (e.g., oxygen) are used. The level of concern is "low".

Electrical Hazards:

• There is an Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) analyzer with a power supply greater than (>) 600 Volts (B70-108). The level of concern is "low".
• A 22 kV High pulse generator (B51). Level of concern is "low".
• A high voltage power supply on lasers (B70A-4431). Level of concern is "low".
• Repair of electrical equipment less than and greater than 120 Volts are in Building 31. The level of concern is "moderate".
• There is a 45 kV transformer (B70-108). The level of concern is "low".
• A 100 amp rock melting furnace. The level of concern is "moderate".
• One of the well-logging trucks in the field has a 30 kV source for piezoelectrics. The level of concern is "low".
• Mass spectrometers have power supplies greater than (>) 600 volts (B70A-4421). The level of concern is "moderate".

Hydraulic Systems:

• Hydraulic systems are used to conduct fatigue testing on materials (B51). The level of concern is "low".
• Hydraulic systems on water pumping trucks in the field. The level of concern is "moderate".

Mechanical Equipment:

• Light weight metal machining is conducted in the B31 shop. Level of concern is "low."
• A motor driven winch at the Savannah River Site. The level of concern is "low".

Lasers:

• There is a CO2 laser present in 70A-4431 but is not in use. Lasers are controlled as specified in Pub 3000 and there is a written AHD. Level of concern is "low".
• Medical monitoring includes laser eye exams for laser users.

Non-Ionizing Radiation:

• There is a UV light in a hood in 70-2275. Level of concern is "low".
• An Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) has radio frequency (RF) and magnetic fields (B70-108). Level of concern is "low".
• The sun is a UV source for field workers. The level of concern is "moderate".

Pressure and Vacuum Hazards:

• Small to large cylinders of inert and hazardous gases are used throughout ESD with regulators and appropriate gas system components. The level of concern is "low".
• A 50 psi sterilizer is used in 70-158 for drying glass ware. The level of concern is "low".
• Bore hole packers in the field can be pressurized to 100 psig. The level of concern is "low".

Biological Hazards:

• Naturally occurring soil microorganisms are used in ESD research . No Class 3 or 4 infectious agents are used. Level of concern is very "low".
• There is a potential for Hanta virus, biting and stinging insects, and poison oak in most of the field sites. The level of concern is "moderate".

Ovens and Furnaces

• Drying ovens are commonly used. Level of concern generally "low".

Unattended Operations

• Research experiments and apparatuses are sometimes run in an unattended mode, especially during the day-time, but the consequences of failure yields a general "low" level of concern. Generally, more evaluation of this item is needed to identify any potential concerns.

Satellite Accumulation Areas (SAA):

• There are approximately 14 SAAs in ESD. The level of concern is "moderate to low".

Facilities

Shop Equipment, Welding/Soldering:

• Rotating and cutting equipment in small machine shop (B31-105/107). The level of concern is "moderate".
• Welding operations at building 31. The level of concern is :"low".
• An ox-acetylene torch is used for glass bending (B70-4419). The level of concern is "low".

Cranes or Hoists:

• There is a monorail crane in 70-108 that is locked out of service. The level of concern is "low".

Personnel Falls/Platforms/Lifts:

• An elevated platform is located in B31-100. The level of concern is "low".
• Well heads at field sites. The level of concern is "moderate".

Seismic Hazards:

• Tall and/or valuable lab research equipment is typically secured in labs. The overall concern is "low".
• Evaluation of seismic bracing for the Atomic Adsorption instruments in 70A-158 needs to be conducted. The level of concern is "moderate".
• There is an issue with tall and expensive equipment in B70-2275. The level of concern is "moderate".

Noise:

• A soil crusher (B14-106) has been evaluated for noise. Sound levels are 75 dBA. Level of concern is "low".
• Moise is monitored in the Exploratory Studies Facility at Yucca Moutain. Noise levels are known to exceed 95 dBA near mining machinery and all workers are required to wear hearing protection.

Heat/Cold Stress

• Heat and cold stress are considerations for field work at all sites. The level of concern is "moderate".

Accelerators and Radiation Sources

Class 1 Radiological work

• Radio labeled carbon 14 is used in 70-166. The level of concern is "low".
• Radio labeled cesium 137, plutonium 239, and Neptonium 237 are used in 70-2275. The level of concern is "low".
• Medical surveillance for this work includes Dosimetry.

Sealed Sources:

• A scintillation counter in B70-166. Level of concern is "low".
• A cesium 137 source is used in sighting equipment in the field. The level of concern is "low".

Environment

• EBMUD general site permit. Level of concern is "low".
• B70A acid waste drain and treatment system. Level of concern is "moderate".
• The need for RWQCB permit for the water treatment plant at the Los Banos site needs further evaluation. The level of concern is "moderate".

Core

Repetitive Motion:

• Office work at video display terminals at all locations may lead to cumulative trauma injuries. The level of concern that some injury may occur is estimated to be "moderate." A few cumulative trauma injuries in offices have been reported in ESD in the last year. There are approximately 100 offices in ESD:

Field work

• Field work is an important part of ESD research and typically consists of lowering variuos types of sensors into bore holes to collect data, conducting pump tests in wells, or collection of rock, soil, or water samples. Generally pre-existing wells are used. Some project have involved drilling new wells of conducting excavation. Nuclear waste studies involve site characterization, actinide geochemistry, and participation in international programs.

Vehicles:

• On-site motor vehicle use by ESD personnel. The level of concern is "moderate".
• Incidental fork lift use at building 31. The level of concern is "moderate".
• 4-wheel drive and large vehicle (construction) use in the field at many sites. The level of concern is "moderate".

UNCERTAINTIES ABOUT THE WORK

There are no unique uncertainties (e.g., research projects) which will impact hazard identification and selection of applicable and appropriate standards and requirements.

RESOURCE AVAILABILITY AND CONSTRAINTS

The following questionnaire was filled-out with input form the ESD Safety Coordinator.

1. Are resources and support expected and/or needed from EH & S in the coming year?
   
   YES - Ongoing support is needed for the following areas: consultation, design review, self assessment , waste generator assistance, etc..

2. Now that you have evaluated EH & S support during the past year and determined the expectations for the coming year, describe your level of satisfaction in EH & S meeting the needs of your division in the current year:
   
   High - Continue to provide quality service to the Division.

3. What is your level of confidence that EH & S can meet divisional needs in the coming year?
   Moderate to High

4. What would it take to increase this rating?
   
   
   1. Training/JHQ - Remove training requirements for researchers on Campus who work at Berkeley Lab and have similar training but are required to take Berkeley Lab EH&S Classes.
      
   2. Training - Deletions of retired employees from the inventory.
      
   3. Chemical Inventory - Training of employees in removing empty containers from the inventory.

STAKEHOLDER CONCERNS

There are no stakeholder concerns unique to ESD. ESD has managed, controlled, and permitted (as required) air, water, hazardous, and solid waste streams.

ATTACHMENT & ENCLOSURE

Attached are ESD organization charts and floor plans of ESD operations. Enclosed are the IHA worksheets for ESD operations that were completed.