OSHA Safety Findings Corrected; What Next?

Doing successful research means working safely with electricity, lasers, chemicals, cranes and hoists, and shop equipment. It can also mean lifting heavy objects and working for hours on computer tasks. All of this work can be done safely and in compliance with OSHA's safety regulations. There are many challenges, however, to performing our work at this high level of safety compliance.  

For example, some of the equipment the Lab purchases does not meet safety standards. Eliminating every hazard is not realistic, nor is it required. What is required is that the Lab identify hazards and establish controls to minimize the risk of injury.  

Many divisions are establishing more detailed safety walkaround programs to help staff identify and control hazards. The EH&S Division is also hiring additional staff, including a Laser Safety Officer, a second Electrical Safety Officer, and radiation safety personnel. And EH&S is developing new training, such as EHS-27, "Performing an Effective Safety Walkaround," to help researchers and staff identify hazards and develop safe work methods and robust hazard controls.  

The Department of Energy has established a new regulation, 10 CFR 851, the Worker Health and Safety Rule, to promote safety at all DOE activities. The new policy establishes fines and penalties for DOE contractors that do not meet OSHA's safety regulations. Although individual Lab employees cannot be fined under this new regulation, any fine reduces the resources Berkeley Lab has available for research.

"Working together, we can meet the challenge of working without injury," said Occupational Safety Manager Richard DeBusk. "The biggest beneficiaries from an improved safety program are you and me -- Lab employees.   No one wants to be injured."