Orbach to Labs: 'I hold myself and each of you responsible for safety...'

(E-mail letter from Office of Science Director Ray Orbach to Laboratory Directors, DOE site and regional offices, on Tuesday, April 4, 2006)

Dear Colleagues:

At Monday's senior leadership meeting, the Secretary of Energy made it crystal clear that we are all held responsible for the safety of all personnel in our offices and laboratories. Accordingly, I ask you to continue to observe the most stringent of precautions regarding safe behavior for all the employees, contractors, and sub-contractors at your site.

Electrical safety remains a special concern. I wrote you last month that: "We have had another arc flash accident at one of our laboratories. Earlier this month, a subcontractor electrician at ORNL received flash burns on his forearm and hand after drilling into an energized 480-volt cable." As I wrote then, "There is no excuse for deviation from prescribed electrical safety procedures."

Please take this opportunity to examine your facilities to be sure that your instrumentation is state-of-the-art for the detection of energized electrical circuits. I hold myself and each of you responsible for the safety, including electrical safety, of everyone at your laboratory.

Again, I am transmitting to you the determined concern and expectation of the Secretary of Energy. I expect all of us to make sure that all those on our sites follow rigorous safety rules with the finest equipment. I hold all of us responsible.

Sincerely,
Raymond L. Orbach
Director